Within the past few years, the demand for electric cars has increased exponentially. The number of fully electric or hybrid cars being manufactured has doubled since just last year in 2021. There has been a huge rise of new brands like Tesla and other brands like Honda or Audi that have been around for many years and are building new electric vehicles along with their current gas-powered vehicles. Although there are millions of new electric cars being released and already owned, there are more gas-powered vehicles driving the streets currently. All that is about to change, as Gavin Newsom has recently made a motion for all new vehicles sold in the state of California to be hybrid or fully electric by the year 2035. 

The transition to gas-powered vehicles to electric will be a significant leap for California residents, the economy, and the environment. Gas fueled cars are a large contributor to carbon emissions, which bring air pollution to the atmosphere. Many negative health issues can arise as a result of air pollution, as air pollution can increase the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer. It would be beneficial to use low or zero-emission vehicles to minimize the creation and release of air pollution into the environment. Electric cars are eco-friendly since they run on electrically powered engines. These cars contribute to a healthy climate through running on a clean energy source, not emitting toxic gasses or smoke into the atmosphere. Electric cars also reduce noise pollution, therefore contributing to a much quieter and healthier lifestyle. Emma Reiss (11) expresses her opinions about electric vehicles as  an owner of an electric powered car. Emma believes that “electric cars are the future, and an exciting first step toward a healthier environment.”

Electrically powered cars not only provide benefits to human health and the earth’s environment, but also many aspects of these vehicles help to save money. Gas prices have hit an all time high in California. Most gas stations in California will charge nearly six dollars per gallon in 2022, whereas the prices were only four dollars per gallon in 2021. After filling up an entire tank of gas, many car owners are left to discover that their wallets have been wiped clean. With an electric car, there are charging stations located throughout various locations in California cities that charge as low as twelve dollars for a full charge. With the purchase of an electric car, the consumer will also receive a charger that can be plugged into an electrical outlet in their homes. Electric cars will provide a cheaper, easier, and more convenient way of fueling vehicles. 

Although there are many positive aspects to owning an electric car, there are also a few negative outlooks. When traveling through a suburban area or on a long road trip, there is the possibility that no places along the way will have a charging station. There is a higher chance of being stranded with a car that is not gas-powered. In addition, it takes longer to fuel an electric car than a gas-powered car. It may take a couple hours to get a full charge on an electric car, while filling up a tank of gas takes just a couple of minutes. 

With Newsom’s motion to have all new vehicles sold in the state of California to be electric or hybrid by 2035, the automobile industry will change as the world knows it. This motion is a remarkable step toward a healthier future.