As the threat of climate change looms on the horizon, many policy makers are scrambling to make solutions. One solution that has been gaining traction is the ban of or phasing out of public access to gas vehicles. In the European Union, a 2023 law banned the sale of new gas and diesel cars by the year 2035. In addition, Norway launched a plan to phase out gas cars by this year. As a result, over 75 percent of the cars in the country are electrically powered. While there have been no federal bans in the United States, there have been some proposed changes at the state level with laws being enacted in states such as California, Washington and Massachusetts.
While these laws have promising intentions, ultimately they are misguided and will likely fail at both adequately reducing the effects of climate change and risk public alienation.
One of the people who wouldn’t support a full ban of gas cars is junior Chase Liebo ’26 who stated “Banning gas cars won’t happen because of the strong car culture in the United States…especially with the people who already have cars.” Furthermore, Liebo stated “The real problem with climate change doesn’t come from cars but mostly comes from big businesses and their pollution.” Liebo’s opinion is backed up by the numbers as well. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 34 percent of emissions are from Electricity and Heat production, 24 percent are from Industry, and 22 percent are from agriculture. Only 15 percent are related to transportation.
Furthermore, even if electric cars were banned in the United States, emissions wouldn’t be fully reduced because electric cars and other alternatives can also produce emissions. Many of the procedures in place when making electric cars and the batteries that power them also produce emissions at a high rate.
With all this being said, the future isn’t bleak. Assuming the government wants to increase dependence on electric cars without fully banning gas ones, options that would likely garner much more public support are available. One solution would be to add tax incentives for buying electric cars. Doing so would make buying electric cars easier and more convenient while also not taking away gas cars from people who prefer them.