autoevolution
 

China Shames California into Adopting Its Own Ban on Combustion-Engine Cars

The list of countries that have either announced a ban on fossil fuel-burning cars or are thinking about instituting one is growing each week, and it may be about to receive another high-profile name.
Smoking tailpipes 1 photo
Photo: kst-motorenversuch.de
It all started with France whose shock decision to ban the sale of gasoline and diesel cars within its borders starting 2040 took everyone by surprise. That happened less than three months ago, and in the meantime, the United Kingdom has joined the camp, with further reinforcement of the idea coming from Scotland as well.

More recently, with just one day left until the start of the Frankfurt Motor Show, China announced it too was taking into consideration a similar act. The conditions aren't clear yet nor is whether the authorities would go ahead with it, but considering China's booming EV business, it wouldn't be a surprise if they did.

China is currently the world's largest car market, which means any changes there would have a dramatic impact on the whole industry. With over two million passenger cars registered during last year, the U.S. state of California is a major player as well, accounting for more sales than France or Italy, for example.

The Golden State is a well-known advocate of clean mobility, and it shouldn't surprise anyone if it were the first U.S. jurisdiction to act drastically on curbing pollution coming from passenger cars. And according to Mary Nichols, chairman of the California Air Resources Board, that's precisely what Governor Jerry Brown might do.

"I've gotten messages from the governor asking, 'Why haven't we done something already?'" Nichols said in an interview with Bloomberg, referring to the China decision. "The governor has certainly indicated an interest in why China can do this and not California."

"To reach the ambitious levels of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, we have to pretty much replace all combustion with some form of renewable energy by 2040 or 2050," she continued. "We're looking at that as a method of moving this discussion forward."

That information provides us with an approximate time frame as well, and it seems to match those proposed by France and all the other countries so far. And even though California is not a sovereign entity, it still has plenty of means to enforce the ban if it gets the go-ahead.

Every passing day makes it sound as though the noose is tightening around the internal combustion engine's neck. It may get a rather long period of agony, but its fate could be sealed over the coming years if more governments adhere to these bans.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Vlad Mitrache
Vlad Mitrache profile photo

"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories