The US state of California has announced plans to ban sales of new petrol-powered cars by 2035.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a rule requiring 100% of new car sales in California to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035.

The plan contains yearly targets – 35% ZEV sales by 2026, 68% by 2030, and 100% by 2035.

“We can solve this climate crisis if we focus on the big, bold steps necessary to cut pollution,” said Governor Gavin Newsom, who described the plan as “ground-breaking”.

Newsom said that the state would invest $10 billion to make it easier and cheaper for Californians to buy electric cars.

Targets ‘extremely challenging’

California is the most populous state in the US and has one of the world’s largest economies. Electric vehicles have a share of 18% of the market in the state – well above the US figure of 6.3%.

The new rules must still be approved by the US government.

The head of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), which represents car makers, described California’s stance as “aggressive”, and warned that the targets would be “extremely challenging”.

“Whether or not these requirements are realistic or achievable is directly linked to external factors like inflation, charging and fuel infrastructure, supply chains, labour, critical mineral availability and pricing, and the ongoing semi-conductor shortage,” said AAI president John Bozzella.