The new rules aim to force automakers to accelerate the introduction and sale of vehicles with cleaner fuels, such as electric cars.
The new policy follows Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to set a target by 2020 to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. This step is important because California is also one of the world's economic centers.
Under rules issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), 35 percent of new vehicles sold in the state must be electric, hybrid, or hydrogen powered by 2026. The regulations will apply to 68 percent of vehicle sales by 2030, and 100 percent by 2035.
The announcement is a great step taken by California. The reason, they are always faster than the US federal government to tighten emissions rules.
With over 39 million residents, California is the largest US state by population. If California were a stand-alone state, it would be the fifth largest economy in the world by gross domestic product, just ahead of the UK.
Joseph Mendelson, senior adviser at electric car maker Tesla, said CARB's plan was achievable and paved the way for California to take the lead.
However, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation - which represents automakers including General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota - says there must also be multi-stakeholder engagement to increase demand for electric vehicles (EVs).
"What we are telling CARB and others is that producing more EVs on the road must be balanced against other policies that together will ultimately determine the success of this transition," said alliance president and chief executive John Bozzella.
Unfortunately, new rules still have to be approved by the US government before they can take effect and can take months, or years to implement.
Photo: Pixabay
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