California to ban sales of petrol-only vehicles by 2035

California is to ban the sale of new petrol-only vehicles by 2035, marking a historic step in the state’s attempts to tackle climate change.

The new rules are aimed to force car makers to accelerate the introduction to the market of cleaner vehicles.

It comes after Governor Gavin Newsom set a target in 2020 to speed up the shift away from fossil fuels.

The move is important as California is the most populous state in the US and one of the world’s biggest economies.

Under the rules, issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), 35% of new vehicles sold in the state must be electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered by 2026.

The regulations would apply to 68% of vehicle sales by 2030, and 100% by 2035.

CARB chair Laine Randolph said the move was “a historic moment for California, for our partner states and for the world as we set forth a path toward a zero emission future”.

The announcement is the latest move by California as it continues to move faster than the US federal government to tighten emission rules.

With more than 39m residents, California is the biggest US state by population. If it was a standalone country it would be the fifth-largest economy in the world by gross domestic product, putting it ahead of the United Kingdom.

Agencies