California to ban sales of petrol-only vehicles by 2035

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The ban on the sale of new petrol-only vehicles in California will be the first of its kind in the world.

The aim of the new rules is to force the introduction of cleaner cars.

The shift away from fossil fuels was set to be sped up by the governor.

California is the most populous state in the US and one of the largest economies.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) requires that at least one third of new vehicles sold in the state be electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered by the year 2026.

More than 70% of vehicle sales would be covered by the regulations by the year 2030.

The chair of the CARB said the move was a historic moment for California and for the world.

California is moving faster than the US federal government to tighten emissions rules.

California has more than 39 million people, making it the biggest US state. It would be the fifth-largest economy in the world by gross domestic product if it were a separate country.

"CARB's plan is both doable and paves the way for California to lead in electrifying the light duty sector," said Joseph Mendelson.

More needs to be done to increase demand for electric vehicles according to the Alliance for automotive innovation.

The alliance's president and chief executive John Bozzella said that getting more EV on the road must go hand-in-hand with other policies that will ultimately determine the success of the transition.

The new rules have yet to be approved by the US government.

The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers trade association called on President Biden and the EPA to reject California's request for a Clean Air Act Waiver.