California is poised to phase out sales of nearly all new, gas-burning cars by 2035 under rules regulators are approved. A move that could dramatically accelerate the transition to EVs (electric vehicles) nationwide in the U.
Because 17 other states typically follow California’s auto-emissions standards, the vote by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) could reverberate far beyond the Golden State’s borders, forcing the auto industry to speed up its switch to EVs.

The proposed regulations would set annual targets for boosting that percentage, starting at 35 percent in 2026 and hitting 68 percent in 2030. Plug-in hydrids, which switch between electricity and gas, and hydrogen fuel-cell cars would also count toward those goals. California already has its own clean-vehicle incentive program, offering rebates of as much as $7,000 toward the purchase of zero-emission vehicles, although cars costing more than $45,000 don’t qualify.

While most automakers have announced plans to ramp up production of EVs, the industry has expressed concern about getting locked into specific timelines for their adoption and that many consumers may not be ready to ditch gasoline.

In the US electrics made up less than 6 percent of new car sales in the first half of this year. And EV prices, already higher than gas-powered cars, are rising as the war in Ukraine, supply chain problems and rising demand make the metals inside their rechargeable batteries more expensive.

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