The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted California the necessary waivers to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and light trucks by 2035, marking a significant step in the state’s push toward zero-emission vehicles.
California’s Roadmap to Zero Emissions
In 2022, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the Advanced Clean Cars II Regulations (ACC II), a groundbreaking plan to phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars and light trucks. The ACC II established a detailed timeline requiring automakers to meet specific zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) quotas in the state.
- 2026: 35% of new cars and light trucks sold must be zero-emission.
- 2030: The requirement rises to 68%.
- 2035: All new cars and light trucks sold must be zero-emission, though plug-in hybrids and used gas-powered vehicles can still be sold.
On Wednesday, the EPA invoked the Clean Air Act to grant California two critical waivers needed to proceed with its ambitious plan.
“California has longstanding authority to request waivers from EPA to protect its residents from dangerous air pollution coming from mobile sources like cars and trucks,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in a statement.
“Today’s actions follow through on EPA’s commitment to partner with states to reduce emissions and act on the threat of climate change.”
Additional Reductions in Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions
Beyond the ban on new gas-powered cars, the EPA also approved California’s initiative to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.
The plan outlines a 75% reduction in NOx emissions initially, followed by a 90% decrease in subsequent years. NOx is a primary contributor to smog and respiratory problems.
California’s Leaders and Advocates React
California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the EPA’s decision, stating, “Clean cars are here to stay. The Biden-Harris Administration reaffirmed what we’ve known for decades – California can rise to the challenge of protecting our people by cleaning our air and cutting pollution.”
Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Safe Climate Transport Campaign, applauded the move.
“Locking in strong clean car rules means easier breathing for millions of people in California and 17 other states, and it should survive whatever the next administration throws at it,” Becker said in a statement.
Pushback and Industry Concerns
Not everyone is on board with California’s bold plans. John Bozzella, president and CEO of the auto industry trade group Alliance for Automotive Innovation, acknowledged the decision but raised concerns about the future of auto regulations.
“We’ve said the country should have a single, national standard to reduce carbon in transportation,” he stated, noting that California’s authority to set its own emissions program remains a contentious issue.
Political Opposition
Climate advocates have urged the Biden administration to secure the EPA’s approval before a potential political shift. Former President Donald Trump, who has opposed California’s emissions standards during his previous term, has promised to reverse the waiver if re-elected.
“The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, including stopping attacks on gas-powered cars,” a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team stated.
Trump has frequently criticized electric vehicle policies, vowing to support both gas-powered and electric vehicles.
Broader Implications
California’s waiver approval has far-reaching implications, not only for the state but also for the 17 other states that follow its vehicle emissions program.
Advocacy group Evergreen Action highlighted the importance of the waiver, calling it one of the Biden administration’s most critical moves to “preserve climate progress” amid potential opposition from a Trump-led administration.
As California moves forward with its zero-emission goals, the state remains at the forefront of the fight against climate change, setting an example for other regions to follow.