Cruising Towards Zero-Emission Cars, by 2035

A ban on the sale of new fossil-fueled vehicles by the year 2035 has been approved in California, United States, ultimately setting an example for other states when it comes to phasing-out polluting vehicles and combating the climate emergency.

“This is a historic moment for California, for our partner states, and for the world as we set forth this path toward a zero-emission future,” says Liane Randolph, chair of the California Air Resources Board, the regulatory board that voted on the plan.

Over the next 13 years, the sale of fossil-fueled cars will be phased out in favor of electric vehicles – 35 percent of sales by 2026, 68 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2035. Used gas-powered vehicles and those bought prior to the 2035 cut-off will remain in circulation. Carmakers offer little resistance as many already planned on ramping up production of electric cars – for example, General Motors already plans on selling only electric cars by 2035. According to the American Lung Association, transitioning to electric cars could save 110,000 lives and $1.2 trillion in public health costs, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 92 percent by 2050.