California will make a huge contribution to the fight against climate change by banning the sale of new gasoline-only automobiles by 2035. The new rules are intended to pressure automakers to hurry up with the market introduction of cleaner vehicles. It complies with Governor Gavin Newsom’s objective of accelerating the switch away from fossil fuels by 2020. The ruling is significant since California is the most populous state in the US and has one of the greatest economies in the world. By 2026, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) expects that 35% of new automobiles sold in the state will be hydrogen-, electric-, or hybrid-powered. 100% of car sales would be subject to the regulations by 2030 and 2035, respectively.

The statement is the most recent move California has made in its ongoing effort to enact stricter pollution regulations than the US federal government. California, which has a population of over 39 million, is the most populous US state. CARB’s strategy was lauded by Joseph Mendelson, senior counsel at Tesla, as workable and a step toward California assuming the lead in electrifying the light duty sector. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, however, noted that more effort needed to be made to raise the demand for electric vehicles.