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Can California Really Phase Out Gas-Powered Cars by 2035?

There are many questions to be answered in regard to Governor Newsom’s executive order to ban the sale of all new gas-powered passenger vehicles by 2035. There are misconceptions about what the executive order means for your ability to drive gas-powered cars beyond 2035. This review discusses the executive order and whether or not California can adequately implement the implied changes within the next 14 years. 

What does the zero-emissions executive order say?

Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop regulations that mandate all new car sales be fully electric by 2035. The purpose for the executive order is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many scientists have suggested that passenger vehicles, which account for 28% of greenhouse gasses in California, are making droughts, forest fires and heatwaves worse in the state. Air pollution may also be a concern that has led to this executive order. 

Important things to know about the executive order on gas-powered cars

With the order of this ambitious plan, there are naturally lots of questions. There are some all too common misconceptions about what this phase-out of fully gas-powered cars means. The following are several important things to know about the executive order. 

Can I keep driving my gas-powered car after 2035 in California?

The executive order does not restrict ownership and use of gas-powered cars. Instead, it only limits the purchase of a new gas-powered car after 2035. This means you can continue to drive gas-powered cars that were purchased in 2034 and earlier. You should also be able to purchase a used gas-powered or hybrid car after 2035 as well. This effort is done to simply encourage the production and sale of fully electric cars within the next 15 years. 

Can California handle that many electric cars? 

California leads the nation in electric cars. They currently have more than 700,000 on the road today. However, this only accounts for about five percent of new car registrations, so whether or not the production is able to meet the demand is yet to be seen, particularly since electric cars will need to become more affordable. 

Another concern is with the number of charging stations. There are approximately 25,000 charging stations in California. This number will need to drastically increase. Lastly, some people believe California will need to expand its electricity supply to avoid blackouts in the state. Fortunately, California has 15 years to make things work.

How will this make a difference in the fight against climate change?

As mentioned, gas-powered cars account for 28% of greenhouse gas emissions. The order is expected to also reduce greenhouse gas emissions indirectly by up to 12% more as well, primarily by not allowing for the production of gasoline and other fuels which accounts for up to 11% of the state’s greenhouse gas emission. In total, the greenhouse gas emissions could decrease by 40% through the executive. In addition, California hopes to be the first state of many to implement restrictions on gas-powered cars, following a list of other countries that have imposed similar future restrictions.

What happens if I do not want to buy an electric car?

While the goal is to eventually have no more electric cars on the road, this will not be the case for quite some time. Electric cars will see a significant increase, but gas-powered cars will still be around and available. The executive order does not restrict driving gas-powered cars but instead does not only for the purchase of new cars. So, if you are like many and love the sound of a gas-powered engine, then you can continue to own and drive your gas-powered car for the foreseeable future, even after the executive order is put into action. 

The other concern is the price of electric vehicles. The fact is at the current price point, many cannot afford to buy an electric car. However, by 2035, many anticipate the price of electric cars to be similar (if not more affordable) than gas-powered cars are now. So, if you do not buy an electric car, then you can continue to drive your gas-powered car for quite some time. In fact, you may even be able to go across the California border to purchase a new car even after 2035. 

This is a state executive order. Can the federal government block this?

In theory, the federal government could make it more challenging for California to implement this policy. However, this is very unlikely. California is the only state allowed to set its own auto emissions standards, according to the 1970 Clean Air Act signed by then-president Richard Nixon. 

What a transformation from gas-powered to fully electric could look like in the state

The executive order does not take effect until 2035, but we are already seeing significant changes in the automobile industry due to the announcement. Car manufacturers are already shifting much more of their focus towards developing affordable electric cars for mass production. For the executive order to work smoothly, there needs to be a significant increase in the production and purchase of electric cars each year. Specifically, the rate of purchasing a fully electric vehicle instead of a gas-powered vehicle needs to increase. 

In addition, you should see California to take more action to ensure there are plenty of charging stations available. California will also need to make significant improvements to the grid to prevent blackouts in the state. Many feel 2035 is an ambitious goal, and ensuring everything is in place to halt the sale of gas-powered cars in the state still has a lot of work left to do, and we should see things begin to change relatively quickly in anticipation of the changes. 

Final thoughts

The executive order appears to be on track for implementation by 2035, but it is not as restrictive as many may think. You can continue driving your gasoline-powered cars after 2035, but you will not be able to buy a new gas-powered car in the state of California.

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Aaron Westbury
Aaron is a content writer with a passion for cars. He enjoys learning new things and loves to share what he learns with others. Aaron also has a Bachelor's in English and years of experience as a writer, and he constantly seeks to improve and make his writing more informative and helpful for readers. Although a writer by day, Aaron enjoys his free time by getting outdoors and staying active anyway he can.

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