Oregon bans the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035

(JANUARY 6, 2023) The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) approved a new rule for new cars. It prohibits the sale of new cars that use gas. The new rule has two deadlines: 35% of sales of new cars must be "zero-emission" cars by 2026. Then, 100% of sales of new cars must be "zero-emission" cars by 2035.

A "zero-emission" car is a vehicle that does not produce any emissions from its tailpipe. This means that it does not release any harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or nitrogen oxides (NOx), into the atmosphere. Zero-emission cars are usually powered by electricity or hydrogen fuel cells, and do not use any fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel. Some examples of zero-emission cars include electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The goal is to reduce emissions in half by 2035 and by 90% by 2050. So the state government is looking at cars because cars cause almost 40% of emissions in Oregon. This means that by 2035, all new cars will be electric, hybrid, or vehicles that use hydrogen for fuel. This new law does not affect cars already in use or sales of used cars that use gas.

Some people believe that the new rule will also help lower prices for these new cars. However, some people in rural areas do not think there is enough infrastructure, such as convenient charging stations, to make the system work. Currently, Oregon has more than 2,000 public and private electric vehicle chargers across the state.