The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on Wednesday, approved the plan by California to ban the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035 as part of the state’s regulatory efforts towards cleaner energy.
According to Reuters, the plan, which was approved by the EPA as part of President Joe Biden’s administration’s final acts in office, was first announced in 2020 and will require a minimum of 80 per cent of new cars sold be electric.
Under the California Clean Air Act, up to 20 per cent of new vehicles must be plug-in hybrid models by 2035.
“Clean cars are here to stay,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said. “Naysayers like President-elect Trump would prefer to side with the oil industry over consumers and American automakers, but California will continue fostering new innovations in the market.”
Mr Newsom’s comments were in reference to Mr Trump’s vow that he would revoke the approvals granted by the EPA to California, requiring more EVs and tighter vehicle emissions standards once he entered the White House in January.
A series of other waivers were also approved by the EPA for California, including the state’s “Omnibus” low-NOx, or low-nitrogen oxide, regulation for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines, while six others are pending, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, New York, Oregon, Massachusetts and eight other states in the U.S. have also adopted California’s rules. It is unclear if those states will succeed in getting approval to implement the plan under the incoming Trump administration.
