Washington State has just announced that they’re ending the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2030. The push to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles is a part of the state’s new clean air law. This law sets ambitious goals for meeting the reduction of carbon emissions by 2050.
The policy sets benchmarks to help improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The policy requires the reduction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), which are particularly potent greenhouse gases. The same law targets a reduction of black carbon emissions in an effort to eliminate the use of gas-powered combustion engines by 2050. Meanwhile, electric vehicles are seeing unprecedented growth in popularity.
In the past few years, electric car sales have consistently doubled. The rise is expected to continue as battery costs decrease and charging stations become more widely available.
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The Move Ahead Washington emphasizes replacing fossil fuel-based transportation with electric automobiles and mass transit. From the perspective of electric vehicles, this new law has a clear benefit. They do not use hydrocarbons, which cause climate change and contribute to the rise in greenhouse gas emissions. Through the rapid adoption of EVs and mass transit, Washington’s improving the health of people and the planet.
The law uses the phrase “zero emissions” to describe its goal, but this is a very low target that doesn’t involve the elimination of any hydrocarbons. Zero emissions from a hydrocarbon-burning engine, such as those used by most vehicles today, are impossible to achieve.
Washington is setting an example for sustainable transportation that other states are sure to follow. There is a need for more and better mass transit in cities. More electric vehicles and fewer gas-powered vehicles will reduce pollution, improve the health of citizens, protect wildlife, and eliminate the need for the massive amounts of oil currently imported from other countries. Washington State looks to be helping the environment in a big way by planning to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2030.
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