The vehicles can have fully electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell powertrains — though the latter has little acceptance in the consumer market.

“The state of California will be able to accomplish the banning of the sale of gas-powered cars in many states in the country within approximately the next decade,” Anderson said.

So far, 12 states and the District of Columbia have committed to adopting the Clean Cars II standard.

The adoption of California's regulations in those states will push automakers to sell more EVs, even as they have struggled to profit off such cars and consumers have shown apprehension about switching from gas-powered models.

Tu Le, founder of Sino Auto Insights, acknowledged that California's continued ability to set its own emissions policy presents a challenge for automakers' short-term profitability. "I think it’s a decent-sized bump on a very long road," he said.

But he added that the California rules help "save OEMs from themselves." He also said the rules "force them to stay fit," referencing global competition in the EV market.

"Without the regulatory pressure, the OEMs wouldn’t do it," Le said.

Waivers past, present and future

California has received environmental waivers from the federal government under the Clean Air Act for decades. The landmark 1970 law, according to the court ruling Tuesday, was even written to give California leeway to continue already-underway efforts to rein in the state’s excessive and harmful pollution.

Over the last 20 years, however, the waivers have become more politically contentious.

...continued

©2024 www.detroitnews.com. Visit at detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.