California to End the Sale of Gas-Powered Cars By 2035 The transition will be gradual — 35% of vehicles sold in the state will need to be electric by 2026 and that increases to 100% by 2035.

By Gabrielle Bienasz

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

On Thursday, a California regulatory body approved rules to end sales of only gas-powered cars in the state by 2035, according to The Sacramento Bee.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved regulations that would require 35% of vehicles sold in California to be electric by 2026. By 2035, all cars would need to be electric, the outlet noted.

In addition, there's a $20,000 fine per vehicle for not meeting the rules for car manufacturers.

The vote was expected because, as the paper noted, Governor Gavin Newsom controls the majority of the board, and he issued an executive order in 2020 that required all of the cars sold in California to not put out emissions by 2035.

But, it was still revolutionary: California, often a green leader, is set to be the first state to ban selling gas-powered vehicles.

"This is transformative," Daniel Sperling, who is on CARB and is the founding director of the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, told the Bee.

You will still be able to drive a gas guzzler in the golden state. But, it will become harder to do so, the outlet noted.

The state will certainly face challenges as these rules go into effect. One, there are likely not enough electric charging stations in the state, and two, it might be harder for lower-income people to buy EVs, the paper noted.

There are about 43,000 electric charging stations in the U.S., per Reuters. The average electric car costs $66,000, according to Electrek.

Gabrielle Bienasz is a staff writer at Entrepreneur. She previously worked at Insider and Inc. Magazine. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business Process

The Best Times, Days and Months To Post on YouTube (2023)

When is the best time to post YouTube videos to maximize their effect? Discover the best time to post on YouTube in this detailed guide.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Business Culture

What Every Business Leader Can Learn From Dutch Bros' People-First Culture

The coffee chain is turning employees into owners of the customer experience.