California has now decided that all autonomous vehicles muost be electric by 2030.
Signed into law on Thursday by the state’s governor Gavin Newsom, the new requirement will come into effect at the turn of the new decade and will ban any autonomous vehicle incapable of zero emissions, meaning even hybrid powertrains will be outlawed. The decision comes as yet another step towards a more sustainable future for the state, which currently boasts the largest vehicle market in the U.S.
It also follows shortly after California introduced laws last year to restrict the sale of all new passenger internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 and commercial trucks and vans by 2045. Since the introduction of these two executive orders from Newsom, more than 15 states have followed suit, implementing similar restrictions on emissions and powertrains for various trucks, vans, and public transport.
“We’re grateful for California’s leadership in ensuring this will be the industry standard,” remarks Prashanthi Raman, head of global government affairs at Cruise, one of the state’s largest autonomous vehicle producers. “The AV industry is primed to lead the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in cities, and it’s why we’ve operated an all-electric, zero-emissions fleet from the start.”
Elsewhere in the tech world, Bitcoin’s value has tumbled following China’s ban on crypto transactions on Friday.
