Against "radical climate policy": California will likely have to lift its 2035 combustion engine ban
While the EU is banning all new gasoline and hybrid vehicles by 2035, the electric car lobby is facing headwinds in the traditionally green US state of California. The state is set to lose its special right to ban vehicles. A tough legal battle is now expected.
The US state of California has traditionally had particularly strict environmental legislation, including regarding road traffic. This dates back to the 1980s, when metropolitan areas like Los Angeles were still regularly blanketed by thick smog. Strict emissions regulations were introduced in California as early as the 1970s and have been adopted by many other states.
Cars have become significantly cleaner since then, however. Nevertheless, California still enjoys certain special privileges, and electric car lobbyists exert considerable influence in the government. Shortly before former U.S. President Joe Biden left office, California Governor Gavin Newsom secured the right, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to ban all Californians from purchasing gasoline, diesel, and hybrid vehicles starting in 2035.
Similar to the EU, all new non-electric cars would then be banned in 10 years. California is the largest single market in the US for the auto industry and therefore has a significant influence on the entire national market. Tesla's triumphant rise also began in California.
But now the combustion engine ban could be thrown out again. According to US media reports , the US House of Representatives has revoked the ban privilege that Biden had quickly granted to his fellow party member, Newsom. Remarkably, 35 Democrats also voted in favor of the proposal introduced by the Republicans – according to Fox News, even two representatives from California voted in favor.
The Republicans are thus implementing their promise to roll back as much of the previous administration's climate policies as possible through bans, carbon taxes, and other measures. US President Trump has consistently ruled out federal subsidies for electric vehicles and emphasized that his administration will let people choose whether they want to drive a combustion engine or an electric car.
Republican Representative Steve Scalise criticized a "radical climate policy" that would have forced electric cars on Americans in the future and deprived them of their freedom to buy. Indeed, a ban policy like the one in the EU is considered the wrong approach in the US, even among many left-wing and green politicians. Critics of the new resolution, however, emphasized that without the ban, California's climate goals would be in jeopardy.
Governor Gavon Newsom told CBS News that his state's policies are aimed at protecting the air quality. This has so far been "not political" and that Republicans have been "bought off by a right-wing propaganda machine." Newsom intends to continue fighting for the electric vehicle mandate in his state. Indeed, there is legal controversy over the extent to which California's powers can be undermined or revised by decisions at the federal level. Observers now expect a lengthy legal battle.
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