DETROIT, Oct 22 - A senior California official expressed confidence that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will approve the state's plan to cease sales of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is seeking waivers under the Clean Air Act to implement this initiative, alongside seven other pending requests related to environmental regulations.
CARB Executive Officer Steven Cliff stated at a Reuters conference that the approval of these waivers is crucial for enforcing the new rules. The proposed regulations aim for 80% of all new vehicles sold in California to be electric by 2035, with a gradual increase starting from 2026.
The rules are designed to reduce smog-causing pollution from light-duty vehicles by 25% by 2037. The requirements include that 35% of new vehicles must be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2026, increasing to 68% by 2030 and reaching 100% by 2035.
Cliff emphasized the importance of these waivers in meeting federal clean air standards, noting that without them, the state would face significant challenges. Automakers have previously raised concerns about the feasibility of the 2035 targets.
In April, a U.S. court upheld the EPA's decision to grant California a waiver for its tailpipe emissions limits and electric-vehicle requirements through 2025. Over the past 50 years, the EPA has approved more than 100 waivers for California.