The US States Banning New Gas-Powered Car Sales by 2035

The switch to electric cars is speeding up nationwide yet no federal rule forces it. Rather, a group of states piling on, led by California, is changing how autos roll out across America. This push from below uses a special part of the Clean Air Act Section 177 that lets others follow California’s tighter pollution rules, sparking ripple effects far and wide.

This change really picked up speed in August 2022, after the California Air Resources Board passed the big new Advanced Clean Cars II rule. Instead of just talking, the plan aimed straight at cutting climate harm and dirty air where it starts. Back then, Governor Gavin Newsom said something like, “Car’s ought to stop making wildfires stronger and adding to those hazy sky days. They shouldn’t be part of melting ice sheets or pushing ocean waters higher, putting our favorite beaches at risk.” Since that move, plenty of other states have started moving the same way, chasing cleaner rides with no tailpipe fumes.

1. California

California shaped this push, so its rules show what others might copy. Instead of flipping a switch, the plan rolls out slow, giving people and carmakers space to adjust. By 2026, about every third new passenger vehicle sold there has to run on zero emissions. That jumps to nearly seven out of ten by 2030. Then, just five years later, all brand-new cars must pollute nothing at tailpipe.

Strategic transformation insights:

• California’s rule only covers brand-new vehicles hitting the market.
• People don’t need to ditch their current gasoline cars.
• The secondhand car scene for gas-powered models stays unchanged yet holds steady despite shifts elsewhere.
• Folks might buy new gas cars from another state then register them close to home.

Knowing what this rule covers really matters. This plan’s just about selling brand-new cars, so nobody has to quit using their old petrol vehicle. Also, people can still buy secondhand combustion engine models without limits. You’re free to get a new fuel-driven car elsewhere and sign it up at home. The real aim? Shifting how upcoming autos hit the market.

2. Washington

Washington jumped on board right after California, all because of an old “trigger law” already in place. That rule locks in step with California’s car pollution rules once they’re set no extra votes needed. So, when California made its move for 2035, Washington followed without delay. The quick shift shows how serious the state is about tackling warmer weather and dirty air.

Policy momentum overview:

• Washington’s new rule lets it quickly follow California’s lead.
• The 2035 pledge kicked in right away.
• Climate-related events accelerated political support.
• Fumes from vehicles turned out to be a main cause of dirty air across the region that’s where most of the problem started.

The drive for this change grew stronger because of real climate effects people could see. When heavy smoke from fires filled the air, making it dangerous to breathe statewide in 2020, officials felt pressure to act faster. Because getting around like driving cars and trucks makes up close to 50% of Washington’s pollution, shifting how vehicles are sold became a key move toward better air.

3. Massachusetts

Like Washington, Massachusetts held an eco-focused “trigger rule” on standby. Because of this, lawmakers didn’t have to argue or approve fresh laws California’s strict vehicle rules from its ACC II program kicked in by default. Thanks to that setup, the state became one of the earliest to sign on formally to the 2035 plan.

Implementation pathway summary:

• Maryland brought in the rule straight away, no waiting on lawmakers.
• Agencies turned their attention to helping people adapt, while also backing changes in business practices.
• Bonuses got bigger to push more people toward electric cars using cash rewards instead of discounts.
• Job training lately focuses on skills for electric vehicle maintenance using hands-on learning that’s built around real-world fixes instead of theory.

Once laws were set, attention shifted to real-world use. Government groups now aim to make change easier for drivers and car makers alike. They’re offering solid cash discounts on electric cars, pouring money into more public chargers, while also launching training plans so mechanics can learn how to fix these new vehicles.

4. New York

New York started moving toward its 2035 rule back in September 2022 Governor Kathy Hochul told state departments to kick off steps for ending sales of gas-run cars. That move didn’t drag; it zoomed through lawmakers’ hands, becoming real policy by summer 2023, locking in the 2035 cutoff.

Infrastructure expansion focus:

• New York’s building a charging system across the whole state, but it’s spreading step by step.
• Investments go into cities as well as villages.
• Fear of running out of power stops people that’s what officials want to fix.
• Folks from different groups are working together on big plans to make chargers easier to reach.

To back this big push, New York’s putting muscle into key projects that grow a strong, easy-to-use charging system. With smart funding, the state’s setting up chargers in packed city neighborhoods as well as far-flung country spots. The move tackles a top worry for people thinking about electric cars running low on power without knowing where to plug in.

5. Oregon

Oregon made it official in December 2022 zero emissions became a real target after the Environmental Quality Commission voted yes. This didn’t come out of nowhere; the state’s been pushing for greener policies for decades, always jumping ahead on climate action. So, when the change dropped, plenty saw it coming, like turning a page everyone knew was there.

Environmental progression context:

• Oregon’s policy builds on a long background of green advocacy.
• Fuel for moving people and goods makes up most of its pollution.
• The state’s pushing electric cars to cut emissions sharply so it’s betting big on cleaner rides instead.
• Leaders see ending gas sales slowly as a way to cut pollution fast yet step by step.

The reason for this rule shows up plainly in Oregon’s pollution numbers. When it comes to climate warming gases, getting around town tops the list about 40% of all emissions come from cars and trucks. Instead of selling more gasoline-fueled models over time, leaders want to cut those fumes sharply. That move should help push the state closer to its cleanup targets.

6. Vermont

In November 2022, Vermont’s legislators backed updates to their clean-vehicle rules putting them on what might be the toughest schedule across the U.S. They’re aiming for every new car sold there to have no emissions at all by 2030, which is five years earlier than California and many other states planning for 2035.

Aggressive timeline considerations:

• Vermont’s pushing for every new car sold to be zero-emission by 2030.
• Farming areas make building roads tough each project faces rough land.
• Cold weather can lower how well batteries work or cut down driving distance.
• Fair charging on long trips matters so making it work everywhere helps everyone stay connected along the way.

Still, hitting this goal in a remote northern area brings its own hurdles. A few locals worry whether e-cars work well when temps drop hard, since cold saps battery life fast. Besides that, setting up enough chargers spread fairly is tough when roads stretch far and towns sit miles apart; the state’s pushing to fix it before time runs out.

7. Maryland

Maryland became part of the group in March 2023 Governor Wes Moore saw it less about pollution rules, more about protecting people’s well-being. His team stressed how dirty car fumes hit medical stats head on, saying cleaner vehicles mean real gains for locals. Experts figure this step could cut yearly losses by almost $40 million thanks to fewer breathing and heart problems messing up work time.

Public health plus financial sense:

• Maryland ties cleaner air to healthier neighborhoods so fewer fumes mean stronger families.
• Saving each year by cutting down waste from dirty air really adds up.
• The approach focuses on quick benefits while also aiming at future climate targets.
• Fresh air gains get talked about like something real people notice.

Putting the ban forward as a fix for dirty air and money troubles gives Maryland’s move real weight other states might now think twice. Instead of talking big climate dreams, it’s about helping neighborhoods breathe easier today. Swapping gas cars for electric ones starts looking less like activism, more like protecting people’s health. Cutting exhaust fumes isn’t just green talk it hits home, saving cash and boosting everyday life.

8. New Jersey

In New Jersey, efforts to start the 2035 ban fit into a broader, faster plan for cleaner power. Back in March 2023, Governor Phil Murphy moved things forward with executive actions, linking them tightly to updated climate deadlines. He explained it clearly “We’re now aiming for full clean energy by 2035 instead of 2050, so we’ve shaved off 15 years.”

Combined plan for power and travel:

• Car pollution rules connect to California’s push for greener power.
• The push speeds up the green energy goal by one and a half decades.
• Folks are linking electric cars with clean power more often, so one helps the other grow, kind of like how bikes need paths to go anywhere.
• The method gets the system ready for all-electric cars by using smarter connections instead of old setups.

This shift shows the car emission rule isn’t just one piece it’s key to a bigger plan across the state to cut carbon. Tying the gas-powered car phaseout to the wider green energy goal helps New Jersey link transport and power systems tightly. Mixing these efforts means the electricity network can handle lots of EVs running on wind and sun, building a cleaner ride system from end to end.

9. Delaware

Delaware moved forward by building on what it already had in place. After folks shared thoughts at a meeting back in April 2023, the state agency handling nature and pollution wrapped up new rules. These changes brought California’s vehicle rules into effect there. Instead of starting fresh, they updated their old clean-car plan that’s been around for years.

Regulatory continuity advantage:

• Delaware expanded older rules about nature care.
• Fitting California rules makes the setup hold up better in court.
• Matching rules stops duplicate laws.
• The approach sets a clear route ahead for upcoming eco-friendly vehicle efforts, while opening doors for new ideas along the way.

Delaware leaned on what it already had, making changes feel natural instead of forced. Because of this move, the state now fits better with federal rules under Section 177 of the Clean Air Act no need to start from scratch. It shows how others could follow suit if they’ve got systems running already. Progress doesn’t always mean starting over; sometimes it’s just smart tweaks.

10. Rhode Island

Rhode Island brought in the Advanced Clean Cars II rules back in May 2023 timing mattered, lawmakers said. Gov. Dan McKee stressed this move wasn’t optional; hitting the state’s firm climate goals required action now. The Act on Climate had already set deadlines, he noted. For him, one thing stood out: slashing emissions means tackling how people get around. “We’ve got hard targets to hit,” McKee pointed out, “so we can’t skip over cars and trucks if we want real progress.”.

Rules you got to follow, along with planet-friendly choices:

• Rhode Island’s restriction comes straight from the Act on Climate it’s required by law.
• Getting around causes pollution that’s what these tackles first. It focuses on how we travel more than anything else.
• The rule helps fairness for nature while cutting down haze. It pushes cleaner air by supporting equal treatment across communities.
• Faster laws stress hitting firm CO2 goals.

This move makes the ban seem less like a choice, more like something required by law and needed for nature. In Rhode Island, reducing car pollution is simply how they meet their climate rules. The governor pointed out that this rule helps balance eco fairness while lowering dirty air linking big-picture climate targets to real benefits in people’s lives.

Even though everyone agrees on cutting emissions, progress isn’t happening the same way everywhere. Some states copying California aren’t keeping pace, while a few are going their separate ways instead. Different rules, speeds, and goals show how messy and changing this process really is each state building its own version of what comes next.