Governor Gavin Newson's executive order states that all vehicles sold in California after 2035 must be “zero emission vehicles”.
On August 25th, California’s Air Resources Board voted unanimously to finalize its Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, which aim to phase out the sale of conventional internal combustion vehicles and hybrids by 2035. The carefully crafted regulatory framework is a masterpiece of rulemaking, reflecting the insight of an agency known throughout the world as a leader in environmental stewardship. The historic decision is also a victory for the collaborative rulemaking process, garnering supportive statements from a diverse group of stakeholders that includes the world’s major automakers.
While some argue that the 2035 target date is unrealistic, ardent electric vehicle fans have the opposite complaint, insisting that the transition could be completed as early as 2030. The deadline reflects the sound judgment of Governor Gavin Newsom, who set the wheels in motion for the agency’s proposal when he signed Executive Order N-79-20 in September of 2020. Newsom’s politically courageous order established the 2035 goal and directed the Air Resources Board to hammer out an appropriate, viable regulatory framework. Many other nations have adopted similar ZEV mandates with target dates that range from 2030 to 2040, and automakers are planning to electrify their fleets during the same time frame. Several other states are expected to adopt California’s framework.
Governor Newsom also directed the Air Resources Board to use its discretion regarding the treatment of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which can run on gasoline or electricity. His executive order states that all vehicles sold in California after 2035 must be “zero emission vehicles”. Taken literally, this phrase appears to refer to vehicles that do not produce tailpipe emissions, but it is also commonly used to identify three specific green powertrains that are not fueled exclusively by gasoline: battery electric vehicles like Teslas, fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen, and PHEVs that burn gasoline when running in hybrid mode but can also run on electric fuel imported to a battery.
The final decision by the Air Resources Board regarding PHEVs reflects the same evenhanded pragmatism that characterizes the rest of the proposal. PHEVs will be treated as ZEVs in spite of their tailpipe emissions, but they will be limited to 20% of the ZEVs in an automaker’s fleet. PHEVs make excellent replacements for SUVs and trucks used for hauling and towing, and they can also provide practical green options to car buyers who do not have access to home charging. The limited exception for PHEVs helped secure the support of automakers, and the 20% quota can be increased if consumer demand for PHEVs grows.
Automakers have expressed a strong desire for a single regulatory framework that applies in all 50 states, making it extremely significant that they are now voicing qualified support for California’s approach, which differs considerably from the Environmental Protection Agency’s weaker framework. California’s ZEV mandate has also earned the enthusiastic support of large environmental organizations that include the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the International Council on Clean Transportation. The optimistic consensus that has been achieved is a testament to the expertise and dedication of the Air Resources Board staff, the effective execution of an inclusive rulemaking process, and the competent leadership of Governor Newsom.
Originally published at Peter Douglas