California last week set an ambitious target: all new cars sold by 2035 must generate no greenhouse gas emissions. The UK has already adopted this worthy goal. The EU is seeking to follow suit. But America’s love affair with gas-guzzling vehicles runs deep. The move from the Golden State is punchy by US standards.
Electric vehicles made up 15.1 per cent of new car sales in the state in the first half of this year, according to the California New Car Dealers Association. Add plug-in hybrids and the total is close to 18 per cent. To get on track with the new target, sales must reach 35 per cent in the next two years.
This is not the first time California has set stretching emissions hurdles. Not all have been met. In the mid-90s, the state walked back a requirement that 2 per cent of cars sold were EVs — then set even tougher goals.