The California Air Resources Board voted Thursday afternoon to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered cars in the Golden State.
The full effect of the binding decision will kick in more than 12 years from now, in 2035, when it will require most new cars and trucks sold in California to run exclusively on electricity or hydrogen.
The regulation will be phased in gradually until then, and it includes an exception for plug-in hybrids, allowing them to make up as much as 20% of new car sales even after 2035.
The regulation is the result of an executive order issued by Gavin Newsom back in 2020, as part of the California governor’s efforts to fight climate change. The requirements will not ban combustion engine vehic …