Order that bans sale of fossil fuel-powered cars by 2035 leads to confusion over commercial trucks impact
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday that aims to end the sale of new gasoline- and diesel-powered passenger cars in the state by 2035.
Newsom said in a statement that adoption of zero-emissions vehicles would reduce greenhouse gas pollution that contributes to climate change.
According to the release, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will develop regulations to mandate that by 2035, all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state be zero-emission — a target which would achieve more than a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an 80% improvement in oxides of nitrogen emissions from cars statewide.
CARB also will develop regulations requiring “all operations” of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to be 100% zero-emission by 2045 “where feasible,” with the mandate going into effect by 2035 for drayage trucks.
It is unclear what the agency means by “operations.” FreightWaves has contacted CARB for clarification.
Generally speaking, the executive order appears to sync up with the Advanced Clean Truck rule California regulators approved in June calling for manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emissions trucks starting in 2023.
In the release, Newsom said today’s order was “the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change.”
“For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse — and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.”
Transportation accounts for 50% of all carbon emissions in California, according to the statement.