12 States Making the Leap to Ban Gas-Powered Cars

As the electric revolution gains momentum, the automotive industry is shifting gears. While electric vehicles (EVs) still fetch a higher price tag than their gas-powered (ICE) counterparts, more manufacturers are steering away from gasoline and hybrid models, plugging into electric power instead. The wave of change doesn’t stop at production lines; it’s rolling right into legislation too.

Several U.S. states have decided it’s time to phase out the sale of gas cars, embracing a greener future. Here’s a rundown of the 12 states making a bold move to ban the sale of gasoline vehicles, signaling that the future of driving is electric and it’s arriving fast.

Vermont

Vermont set their plans in motion back in November 2022, deciding to phase out ICE-powered cars by 2030—that’s a whole five years ahead of many other states. Yep, you heard right, Vermont wants to be an EV-only state in less than a decade. It’s a pretty ambitious goal, especially for a small state, but they’re all in on making a significant environmental leap forward sooner rather than later.

California

California is leading the charge when it comes to ditching gas-powered cars. Back in August 2022, they set a rule that by 2035, if you’re buying a new car, SUV, or pickup truck in California, it has to be zero-emissions. You’ll still see gas cars on the road, but the idea is to stop adding new ones to the mix. It’s a pretty big step, especially since electric cars haven’t taken off as quickly as some people hoped.

Delaware

And then there’s Delaware, jumping on the bandwagon after California made its big move. In 2013, they decided to start phasing out gas-powered cars too. The guy in charge back then, Shawn Garvin, said, “Let’s do what California’s doing.” They’re not just talking electric, hydrogen cars might be in the picture too. So, if you’re in Delaware, expect to see a lot more charging stations and a lot fewer gas pumps in the future.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts hooked up with California’s Advanced Clean Cars II back in 2022. Thanks to a handy trigger law, any time California tightens up emissions policies, Massachusetts is automatically on board. What does that mean for you? By 2035, you won’t find new gas-powered cars for sale in Massachusetts.

New Jersey

Image Credit: peeterv from Getty Images Signature/ Canva Pro.

New Jersey is also clearing the air, aiming to cut out new gas car sales by 2035. How did they get there? Well, they’ve been building up to this under the Clean Air Act, specifically Section 177, which lets them choose: stick with federal standards or go tougher like California. They chose the latter. In March 2023, Governor Phil Murphy pushed that commitment further, signing executive orders to speed up their eco-friendly plans, chopping a whole 15 years off their previous goal.

Washington

Washington state, not to be confused with D.C., is on the fast track too, thanks to a trigger law like Massachusetts’. When California tightens up emissions standards, Washington’s right there with them. Both states made the jump simultaneously in August 2022, committing to ditch gas cars by 2035. This move is expected to have a huge impact, particularly in reducing pollution. So, if you’re in Washington, expect cleaner air and quieter roads as more EVs take over.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has agreed to go along with California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, but they’re keeping mum on the details. There’s a bit of mystery around whether they’ll stick to the 2035 deadline to stop selling gas-powered cars, maybe extend it, or even cut to the chase sooner. It’s a waiting game to see how Pennsylvania will fine-tune these rules to fit their state’s needs and vision.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is stepping up as the eighth state to embrace Section 177 of the Clean Air Act. They’ve set their sights on 2035 to start saying no to gas-powered vehicles. This action kicked into gear in May 2023, with Governor Dan McKee leading the charge.

New York

Image Credit: MsBananna from Getty Images Pro/ Canva Pro.

Governor Kathy Hochul kicked off the move to ditch gas-powered cars back in September 2022. By 2035, you can bet that any new car, be it an SUV or a pickup, sold in New York will be zero-emission. The rules were set in stone by summer 2023.

Oregon

In December 2022, Oregon decided they wouldn’t be left behind in the race to clean up. By voting to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035, they joined the front runners alongside states like California and New York. This makes Oregon one of the early adopters of the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations.

Maine

Image Credit: wastesoul from Getty Images/ Canva Pro.

Maine got a push from the people living there and decided in May 2023 to aim for cleaner cars. The plan? Starting with 35% of new car and light truck sales being zero-emission by 2026, they want to hit 100% by 2035. Sounds a lot like what California started, right? But, there’s a twist—Maine’s people recently voted against speeding up the ban on gas cars to 2032. So, they’re sticking to the original timeline but keeping an eye on public opinion.

Maryland

Over in Maryland, they’re setting the stage to go gas-free by 2035 too. Governor Wes Moore made the announcement in March 2023. By switching to zero-emission vehicles, Maryland expects to save about $40 million a year. How? Well, fewer sick days from respiratory and heart issues because the air’s going to be cleaner.