Where Did California’s Gas-Car Ban Come From?

Issue #117

Happy Sunday! The automotive industry has gone through a crazy week, and we’re covering all the critical news.

Market News

• Toyota has announced the new RAV4, and we analyze whether it’s worth it or not. 

• “Lightly used” (whatever that means) cars rise in prices. Here’s why. 

• One state implemented speed cameras and now issues 30,000 tickets per month. 

• These are the best used AWD cars out there. 

• Toyota’s new C-HR now has 338 horsepower, turning it into an interesting proposal. 

• Nissan aims to reduce costs by this massive amount to get out of crisis mode. 

• Tesla’s presence in China, its largest foreign market, is threatened by this SUV.

• Dodge brings us the “world’s only” four-door muscle car. Here it is.

• Volkswagen might have found a buyer for this iconic Italian brand. 

• Porsche will end production on these two iconic models.

Safety and Recalls

• Ford faces a class-action lawsuit over a tire recall, and it’s getting complicated for the company. 

• Audi recalls nearly 90,000 vehicles over fire risk. 

• Aston Martin recalls this hypercar in the US. The number of vehicles affected? 11.

• Ford has yet another recall, this time over loose seats. 

Car Culture

• Meet the face behind Rivian’s R3, its latest model. 

• Did you think Slate’s truck was basic? Check out Fiat’s new proposal (no, it’s not coming to the US).

• Public opinion on Tesla and SpaceX takes a hit because of Musk. 

• An iconic British classic sports car with the DNA of an iconic Japanese sports car? This sounds perfect!

• Why is nobody talking about this RAM truck? (When we should.)

• Legendary F1 veteran criticizes Max Verstappen’s tactics. Here’s what he said.

• Jaguar Land Rover said it wouldn’t produce cars in the US. Now, it has ditched this market. 

• This might be the automotive Holy Grail, and you can buy it for $175,000.

• Hydrogen trucks from this failed startup are now up for sale. 

• Texas just passed a great car law. Here’s what it is. 

Video Of The Week

Speaking of Jaguar failures, here’s one that could’ve saved it but didn’t.

Power On The Go

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In The Know

Here’s Why California’s Gas-Car Ban Was Flawed.

It’s a historic vote that could change the entire automotive industry for years to come. The US Senate has voted to block California’s ban on gas-powered cars by 2035.

The vote was 51-44, with only one Democratic vote from Michigan. As this article explains, the process has been criticized. 

While California was leading the charge in electrification, the voting didn’t just affect it. 11 other states also planned to stop selling gas-powered cars.

This article explains that these states comprised 40% of the country’s automotive market. 

So, what does this mean?

To understand the possible ramifications, it’s important to understand where this comes from and why the original idea might have been flawed to begin with. 

California has historically struggled with smog due to many factors. Its topography contributes to more pollution, and its long distances force people to drive more.

These are only two; you can read more about the others here. 

That’s why the state has led efforts to reduce statewide pollution. The first massive effort was in 1967 when then-Governor Ronald Reagan approved the Mulford-Carrell Air Resources Act.

At the same time, the 1967 Federal Air Quality Act was enacted, allowing California to set its own pollution standards due to the factors we mentioned before. If you want to learn more about this act, you can read this article. 

The actions worked. From 1980 to 2023, California saw a 48% reduction in smog and air pollutants.

You can read more about the changes here. 

These more stringent standards and the fact that California was such a big market meant automakers had to adjust to California’s requirements. These were never contested in 60+ years of history until now. 

Those who voted to block the ban argue that EVs are fine. However, there’s no need to force people to buy a specific type of vehicle, removing the consumer’s right to choose.

This interview dives deeper into the topic. 

As this article explains, those voting to block the ban also believe the American automotive industry has struggled to meet these standards in such a short period.

However, the most critical discussion is whether the mandate would have been feasible. The evidence points to it being impossible.

In 2022, in the face of heat waves, fires, and drought, California energy grid officials asked EV owners not to charge EVs, as this article explains.  

Such a situation is one of the critical discussions regarding massive electrification. The systems supporting these changes must exist; this article (from 2018) explains precisely that. 

In reality, a full transition to EVs isn’t feasible under current conditions. The cost outweighs the benefit in great proportion. 

That’s not to say it can’t be done. Let’s look back to the Ozone Layer crisis in the 80s and 90s. Changing was possible because the technology to replace CFC was available. Now, that’s not the case. 

That’s why we must have a reasonable replacement. After all, it’s not as if people don’t like EVs.

Here’s how Utah has embraced EVs, and it’s because, in the right conditions, it’s a viable option for some.