California Mandates Zero-Emission Autonomous Vehicles by 2030

California Mandates Zero Emissions for Autonomous Vehicles

Beginning in 2030, the state of California will mandate that all light-duty autonomous vehicles operating within its borders produce zero emissions. This legislation, SB 500, was enacted by Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday. It signifies a continued commitment to curtailing the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles and lessening greenhouse gas emissions.

Previous Emission Reduction Efforts

Governor Newsom previously issued an executive order in 2020. This order effectively prohibited the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles by the year 2035. Furthermore, the state’s Air Resources Board stipulated in the same year that all new trucks sold in California must achieve zero emissions status by 2045.

Industry Response

Prashanthi Raman, head of global government affairs at Cruise, expressed gratitude for California’s leadership. She stated that the company believes this will establish a new industry benchmark. Cruise has consistently operated a fully electric, zero-emission fleet since its inception, recognizing the potential of the autonomous vehicle industry to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban environments.

Cruise actively supported SB 500 through its participation in the Emission Zero Coalition. This coalition also includes Nuro, a startup focused on autonomous delivery services.

Transportation's Impact on Emissions

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation sector has been the leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States since 2019. Light-duty vehicles are responsible for over half of these emissions.

Current Autonomous Vehicle Numbers

Currently, autonomous cars constitute a very small percentage of the approximately 15 million vehicles registered in California. Leading companies like Cruise and Waymo, which are actively testing fully autonomous taxi services, primarily employ electric and hybrid vehicle fleets.

Preventing Future Pollution

This recent action by California aims to prevent autonomous vehicles from becoming significant sources of pollution in the future. This is particularly relevant if driverless taxi services gain widespread acceptance among commuters.