CALIFORNIA GASOLINE VEHICLE PHASEOUT
Phasing Out Gasoline Vehicles in California
Coltura was the first organization to publish an op-ed in 2017 calling for California to phase out sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles. Shortly after our op-ed was published, Assemblymember Phil Ting introduced the Clean Cars 2040 Act, and Coltura helped form and lead a coalition to support its passage.
In 2018, Coltura initiated the first convening in California of experts on policies to reach 100% Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), which culminated in the report “100% Zero: Solutions to Achieve Universal Zero-Emission Vehicle Adoption.”
In 2019, Coltura and the Yes Clean Cars coalition worked to advance AB40, which moved forward as a $1.5 m budget item for a study to identify strategies to transition to zero emission vehicles.
On September 23, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an executive order ending sales of new gas-powered cars in the state by 2035.
Coltura applauds the order as a positive step forward and a strong signal that the end of the gasoline era is coming. It will spur more electric vehicle charging infrastructure and will lower electric vehicle prices and increase selection by requiring all automakers to compete to sell their brand of electric vehicles.
However, we believe more must be done to cut gasoline use faster.
Regardless of the date for the gas car phaseout, the groundwork to achieve the transition must occur at the local level. Public and private sectors must rapidly electrify their fleets; cities must pass ordinances ensuring ample EV charging, especially in apartments and workplaces; large businesses must make bold commitments to enable their employees to stop using gasoline; and community leaders must use their voices to change the culture of acceptability of gasoline.
Coltura has launched Beyond Gasoline as an initiative of Joint Venture Silicon Valley. The initiative works to bring about these local changes Silicon Valley and set an example for other regions to follow.
