California expected to ban sale of gas-powered cars by 2035 Transcript

Gigi Graciette: (00:00) Good morning, Tony. Good morning, everyone. This, of course, is all part of California's plan to tackle climate change and electric vehicles are a huge part of that plan. Soon we should be seeing more and more electric vehicle charging stations like this one on Louise and Saticoy. Now the ultimate goal is over a decade away and it is to ban the sale of gasoline powered cars here in California, and today California regulators will be taking a crucial step forward by voting on banning sales of gas powered cars by 2035 with Governor Gavin Newsom saying, "The move is the beginning of the end for the internal combustion engine." Gigi Graciette: (00:42) Now if passed the rule issued by the California Air Resources Board would require that all new cars sold in California be certified free of greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide by 2035. And some of the provisions in the rule go into effect sooner. For example, by 2030, that goes up to 68% of all new passenger vehicles must be zero emission. But while sales of new gas powered cars may be banned, the complete phase out is still decades away. Gov. Gavin Newsom: (01:15) Besides being a game changer in terms of our climate and our energy leadership, it's a game changer in another respect that the car manufacturers themselves are celebrating and embracing it, including Toyota, not just Ford and GM. Gigi Graciette: (01:35) And the governor of course, referring to General Motors announcing last year, "That by 2035, they'll no longer make gasoline powered cars worldwide." And Ford saying, "They're committed to building a zero emissions transportation future." There has been, of course, some opposition coming for example, from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, they say, "That while they are committed to electric vehicles, California's mandates would be extremely challenging to meet." Gigi Graciette: (02:02) Now another interesting part of this vote today is that at least 15 other states have already committed to following California's lead. So as Tony mentioned, all eyes are on this vote scheduled for later this morning in Sacramento. Gigi Graciette: (02:17) Reporting live, I'm Gigi Graciette back to you.