Virginians are being forced to only purchase electric cars starting in 2026. A full ban will be in place by 2035.
"In 2021, Governor Ralph Northam and the Virginia General Assembly approved legislation—the Clean Cars Virginia Bill (H.B. 1965)—that requires the Commonwealth to adopt the State of California’s vehicle emissions regulations and electric vehicle mandates. Virginia can’t customize these policies; it has to implement California’s exact regulations, as written by officials in Sacramento.
At the time this bill was passed, California had enacted an electric vehicle sales mandate, so Virginia was immediately committed to adopting the same policy which will take effect early next year. However, since the bill’s passage, California took this a step further and has now finalized regulations to outlaw sales of gasoline, diesel, flex fuel and most hybrid vehicles. Virginia is committed by the 2021 law to also adopt these more stringent regulations. They will begin phasing in around 2026, concluding with a full ban on sales of new gas and diesel cars and trucks by 2035.
The Virginia Attorney General’s office confirmed to the Associated Press last year that “the 2021 law bound Virginia to California’s regulations...” The same story noted that environmental attorneys concur with the opinion, agreeing that “under current law, Virginia would have to get in line with California.”
According to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, “The Clean Car Standards… will eventually require the sale of only new ZEVs in the future.” That means only new electric, hydrogen or other non-tailpipe-emitting vehicles would be available for purchase in the Commonwealth. "
You may have seen that AFPM is shining a spotlight on the Commonwealth of Virginia and its unlikely tie to California’s looming ban on gasoline and diesel vehicles. Allow us to explain why, and also to lay out the current state of vehicle mandates and bans in Virginia.
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