The planet is in trouble, and a gas-car ban just might help. But how will it affect you? Cars are not small investments. They make a big impact on our wallets — but also on the environment. That's why when California announced a gas-car ban in August arid other states suggested they'd follow suit, there was a mixed response. Sure, reducing our use of gas by choosing more eco-friendly cars could slow climate change and help everyone live more sustainably, not to mention save money on gas in the long run. But what would happen to people's cars? Would they have to buy an expensive new electric vehicle right now?
Well, let's set a few things straight first: This isn't a full-on ban. People living in or visiting California will still be able to drive gas cars, as well as buy and register used internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles, well after the law takes effect. But in a little over a decade, residents will not be allowed to register new gas-burning cars. It will take more than a decade for the ban to take effect fully — 2035, to be exact.
Why is California banning gas cars? It's all about the environment. More than half of California's carbon pollution comes from the transportation sector, and eliminating ICE vehicles is a critical first step in, addressing the climate crisis. California has seen the impact of climate change firsthand in the form of natural disasters such as floods, mudslides, record-breaking droughts and extreme wildfires — all of which have increased in frequency and intensity in recent years.
However, new rules and laws can be fearsome, and hard to carry out at first. For example, electric vehicles (EVs) also don't get as many miles per charge, making them difficult for long-distance trips and states with few charging stations. Related to that, the country needs more public charging stations. But, of course, the biggest barrier to more people getting excited about electric vehicles is price, which is currently higher than traditional vehicles due to their expensive batteries.
Still, Rauch is hopeful. "As someone who is focused on the health benefits of reducing pollution, I see the benefits as vastly outweighing the challenges," she says. "At the end of the day, who doesn't want their children and grandchildren to breathe clean air?"
