According to the latest report, California’s clean air regulator this week unveiled a plan to boost sales of electric and zero-emission vehicles while phasing out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.
If passed by the California Air Resources Board, the proposal would require that by 2026, 35 percent of all new passenger vehicles sold must be electric or hydrogen-fueled; by 2035, 100 percent will be zero-emission.
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The proposal shows that California is regaining leadership in tackling climate change. Analysts say the proposed sales standards are necessary and feasible as transportation is California’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and a significant source of harmful air pollution.
The plan follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2020 executive order that would require California to phase out new vehicles with internal combustion engines within 15 years and call for zero sales of all such vehicles by 2035 emission.
Moreover, the California Air Resources Agency is expected to vote on the proposal in August. At least 15 U.S. states, including New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, have adopted California’s vehicle standards in previous clean-car regulations.
Furthermore, environmental groups are also actively urging the Air Resources Board to act faster on climate change, calling on the government to set a target of 75% of total EV sales by 2030 and create incentives to help low-income households offset the transition to EVs cost of.
Currently, the American Automotive Research Council is implementing a scrap and replacement program called Clean Cars for Everyone, which allows low-income individuals and people living in impoverished communities to replace their old, polluting gasoline-powered vehicles, and get $9,500 zero-emission replacement fee.
The Clean Vehicle Assistance Program also provides $5,000 to low-income individuals to purchase a new or used electric vehicle.
