California, the US state with the largest population and gross domestic product, has frequently made headlines for its ambitious environmental policies. For better or worse, the state has had to act with extraordinary prudence [1] as climate change increasingly ravages its forests with wildfires and water supply with droughts. Legal spats [2] have not stopped California from addressing the climate crisis head-on, and now, its newest policy is its most aggressive yet: a total ban on the sale of gas-powered automobiles.
The ban, to go into effect in 2035 after it was originally laid out in a 2020 executive order, is the US’s only. By 2026, 35% of automakers’ sales must be zero-emission, a figure that increases to 68% by 2030. By 2035, all new automobiles sold in the state must be powered by electric batteries or hydrogen fuel cells.
How California regulates the environment influences the policies of over a dozen states, which often legislate in line with California’s decisions. So, on the one hand, California’s ban on gas-powered vehicles will greatly decelerate the US’s—and, critically, the world’s—reliance on gas-powered vehicles, one of the greatest polluting industries. But, on the other hand, we are already hearing serious criticisms from other states, like Texas, that do not prioritize green energy and sustainability initiatives.
The ban, critics argue, will hurt lower- and middle-income consumers, as electric vehicles currently have a higher sticker price [3] than gas-powered vehicles (though, on average, electric vehicles cost less per month when factoring in trips to the gas station). Detractors also say that it will increase dependence on Chinese-manufactured electric batteries.
Still, California’s new ban comes at what looks like an inflection point [4] in the electric vehicle market. The recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for purchasers and producers of electric cars, and automakers are already increasing their electric vehicle production. Plus, the share of newly-purchased vehicles that are electric is increasing, and perhaps may accelerate across the board once more states follow California’s lead.
Although criticisms and even legal challenges are sure to follow California’s ban, its impact is sure to be felt far and wide.