Orders in California and Massachusetts banning gas engine sales by 2035 now look relatively cautious. The edge reports that Washington and the Senate have voted for a bill amendment, Clean Cars 2030, which will phase out sales of new motor vehicles from the 2030 model year – electric vehicles will then be your only choice. This would include vehicles purchased in other states and imported into the state.
The initiative would only start if the state paid a mileage tax to finance transport infrastructure. Governor Jay Inslee has yet to sign the bill as we write it.
A signing would not only result in Washington beating other states to ban gas car sales, but would also make it the first to impose a ban through a vote instead of an executive order. This makes it more difficult for future governors to reverse or mitigate the ban.
This can cause headaches for some car brands. Ford, Mini, Volvo and others plan to be electric for most or all of their setups by 2030, but GM does not expect to go with EV only in 2035. Washington’s measure could force GM and others to cut some of their lineup in the state, even though internal combustion engines are in the minority at the time. However, it could encourage car companies to step up their electrification, and it could inform EV transitions in other states.
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