Gas Pump inserted in car
Leah Berenson
Leah Berenson
September 30, 2022 ·  4 min read

California to Ban the Sale of New Gasoline Cars 

We’ve seen a rapid and undeniable environmental shift. Summers in the Pacific Northwest have been hotter and drier than in previous years. Meanwhile, Winters in Texas have seen more rainfall. Many animals, some of whom play a vital role in the function of our ecosystem, have become endangered or extinct. The pollution circulating through our atmosphere has damaged the natural composition of our ecosystem. Great news for those advocating for more eco-friendly living, California has passed new legislation. They’ve set in motion a plan to ban the sale of gas cars by 2035. Several other states are working to follow suit on this zero-gas emissions policy.

Read: Electric Vehicle Nightmare: Girl Learns Car Needs New Battery, Then Family Realizes It Isn’t Made Anymore

Driving and Climate Change.

 Due to the high volume of cars on the road, driving has been a major contributor to the negative effects on the environment. There are an estimated 240 million cars on the road each day in the United States. That number doesn’t include public transportation or cars driven in other countries. Driving isn’t the only change that will need to be made, more steps will need to be taken to slow the effects of our environmental impact. However, banning cars that run on gas is a huge step in the right direction.

Other States Are Following Suit.

California’s new law pertaining to gas-powered cars will be more severe than current federal emissions laws. So far, 17 other states have embraced California’s tailpipe emission standards. These states include the rest of the West Coast and other highly populated states like New York. ‘Other states can adopt California’s standards without government approval, as long as they’re identical, according to the EPA.’[1] It’s great news that such highly populated states are on board with making these changes because it means we can begin to repair some of the damage we’ve done. The new policy sets a precedent for other states to evaluate their own carbon footprint. Governor Newsom spoke with ABC News about the C.A.R. Board’s decision to approve the regulations. He went on to explain, that all new cars will be required to run on either electricity or hydrogen in order to legally be sold.  

Read: The Biggest Reason People aren’t Buying Electric Cars

Is There a Downside?

 While eco-friendly living is good for the whole world, there are a few challenges that will first need to be overcome. Two of the most predominant barriers are cost and demand. Electric cars vary in price but are typically more expensive than gas-powered cars. Demand for electric cars will greatly increase over the next several years and car companies are in a rush to produce enough cars to keep up with demand. Car companies like Chevrolet have found a way to address both issues by working to design their own version. The current president and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research, Carla Bailo, has explained that the cost of batteries will need to decrease. The cost is, currently, more than a gas-powered engine and is a big part of the reason they’re more expensive. On the bright side, she does believe they’ll be cheaper in the next several years. Carla Bailo went on to state “Most manufacturers are saying by 2025 batteries will be on par with the cost of an internal combustion engine and when that happens, that will definitely help bring the price down.” [2] 

Could Be Worth the Tradeoff. 

Although the batteries are predicted to come down in cost, another use of resources to consider is charging stations. Recharging is more time-consuming than “fueling up” a car and could lead to a failed framework. In order to install enough chargers to sustain all these cars, states will need time and money they may not be able to find. Unfortunately, as of now, there are not enough workers to keep up with the predicted demand. The unknown economic impact is unknown and that’s another important factor. There is always a possibility of an unfavorable outcome. On the other hand, because workers will be needed to build the parts and install the charging stations more jobs will be created which could help to stimulate the economy. 

What’s Next?

It’s not feasible to expect that every family will have the means to go buy a new electric car, and the rising cost of living will make that even more difficult. It’s important to note that the law does allow for buying a used gas-powered vehicle. Driving a gas-powered car that was purchased prior to the law taking effect will also still be permitted. Some more good news is that car companies still have a few years to work through all the hurdles that stand in the way of a greener world. Scientists and engineers are working together to create a brighter and healthier planet.

Keep Reaidng: New Gas-Powered Cars Are Set To Be Banned In Canada & Here’s Everything We Know So Far

Sources

  1. States banning the sale of new gas-powered vehicles.” ABC News. Meredith Deliso. August 26, 2022.
  2. California wants to end sales of new gas cars by 2035. Here are 4 key roadblocks.” NPR. Arezo Rezvani. August 27, 2022.