The state of California is eyeing to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. State officials noted that it was a plan that the California governor described as the start of the end for the internal combustion engine.

The New York Times reported that the new policy is expected to speed up the transition toward electric vehicles (EVs). More than a dozen other states typically follow California's lead when it comes to placing their own auto emissions standards.

Electric vehicles expert Margo Oge, who has worked at the EPA under presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, said California's plan will drive the market and innovation. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom described the new policy as one of the most important steps to "the elimination of the tailpipe as we know it."

Newsom said that children were going to act like "it's a rotary phone, or changing the channel on a television." The transportation sector is the nation's top source of global warming while increasing greenhouse-gas emissions.

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California's Ban on Gas-Powered Cars

The California Air Resources Board is seen to impose the rule and hold a final hearing on Thursday. According to Fox News, the same plan noted that 35% of cars sold in the state should be fossil-fuel free as early as 2026.

In a statement, Newsom said the climate crisis is "solvable" by focusing on bold steps to get to the root of carbon pollution. The auto vehicle industry has expressed doubt that California can meet all the conditions needed to impose a ban on gas-powered cars successfully.

John Bozzella, president of the Alliance for Automatic Innovation, noted that the plan is "extremely challenging." Newsom's office argued that it was ready to make the needed investments to trigger the shift to EVs, The Verge reported.

It includes $10 billion in vehicle incentives, charging infrastructure, and public outreach over the next six years. In addition, California is paying low-income residents up to $9,500 to trade in gas-powered cars for an EV. There is also $7,000 for any resident who wants to buy or lease an electric car.

The sale of electric cars in California is rising, accounting for about eight percent of total sales in 2020 and more than 12 percent in 2021.

Electric Vehicles in California

California also wanted to triple the sales of EVs in the next four years to 35% of all new car purchases. USA Today reported that the California Air Resources Board's proposal would slowly increase the sale of electric, hydrogen-powered, or plug-in hybrid cars to 100% by 2035.

California has also placed a goal of installing 250,000 charging stations by 2025. At present, there are about 80,000 stations in public spaces or parking lots at office buildings and other shared spaces.

The state's Energy Commission also approved spending $314 million on passenger car charging stations for three years. Newsom also added more to the state's proposed budget.

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Written by: Mary Webber

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