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canyonwalkerLast Thursday the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to approve a regulation that phases out the sale of new gas-powered cars, trucks and SUVs by 2035. The rule phases it in with a few steps. By 2026, 35% of new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the state must be either zero-emission, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen-powered models. The target rises to 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035. Existing vehicles are not affected, nor are sales of used vehicles. Example news coverage: NPR article, 25 Aug 2022; NY Times article, 29 Aug 2022.
It'll be interesting to see what comes from this. So far we've been stuck in a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation where some automakers say, "The demand's not there," while many buyers say, "The choices aren't there." To be sure, there's a lot of development left to be done on providing more choices— and more affordable prices. The EVs sold today are expensive compared to the average new passenger vehicle. A government mandate would help break through the problem of manufacturers waiting on an answer to the chicken-and-egg question. And even though this is just one state's policy, not a nationwide policy, California is both (a) a huge market within the US and (b) a first mover on automobile & climate policy that many other states copy.
It'll be interesting to see what comes from this. So far we've been stuck in a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation where some automakers say, "The demand's not there," while many buyers say, "The choices aren't there." To be sure, there's a lot of development left to be done on providing more choices— and more affordable prices. The EVs sold today are expensive compared to the average new passenger vehicle. A government mandate would help break through the problem of manufacturers waiting on an answer to the chicken-and-egg question. And even though this is just one state's policy, not a nationwide policy, California is both (a) a huge market within the US and (b) a first mover on automobile & climate policy that many other states copy.
