New Jersey will become the sixth U.S. state to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars after 2035. The state joins California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington in taking the step.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a series of executive orders intended to help the state shift to “100% clean energy by 2035.” One of the measures “initiates the process” of adopting California’s Advanced Clean Cars II mandate, which will require all cars and light trucks to be emissions-free by 2035.
Today is a good day. I am proud to announce that we're accelerating New Jersey's goal of reaching a 100% clean energy future ahead by 15 years – from 2050 to 2035.
We’ve turned our vision for a greener tomorrow into a roadmap to guide us along the way.
🗺️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/lAEAGTHahN
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) February 15, 2023
The rules don’t take gas-powered cars off the street or ban the sale of used gas-powered cars. They also don’t ban residents from buying them out of state and titling them in New Jersey. But they will require car dealers to sell only emissions-free new cars within 12 years.
The European Union took a similar step last month.
The automotive industry, however, may not change much in response to the bans.
Most automakers are already well on their way toward selling all- or mostly electric fleets before 2035. Some, like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, have announced plans to sell all-electric lineups by 2030.
Others have said they may not go 100% electric, but they’ll come close. General Motors, for instance, plans a mostly electric lineup by 2035. Porsche says it plans to keep its iconic 911 sports car gas-powered but may electrify the rest of its fleet as it tries to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
The rapid shift to electric cars will, however, test America’s electricity infrastructure and likely force significant updates.
