The move by states to increase the use of electric cars is here with Washington as one of the leaders. A recent look into what Washingtonians think shows support for the ban on gas vehicles was especially high among respondents who identified as very liberal, and low among those who identified as very conservative.
More than 11% of new cars sold in Washington state are electric, according to the federal government, which said there are 67,000 EVs registered statewide. Electric cars are sold as more earth-friendly and pushed by the government with tax incentives. California has even banned the sale of new gas-powered cars starting in 2035.
Gov. Jay Inslee said Washington will do the same, tweeting “Washington set in law a goal for all new car sales to be zero emission by 2030 and we’re ready to adopt California’s (regulations) by end of this year.” Nearly half of voters oppose gas-powered car sale ban in Washington, WA Poll shows. Rural voters and voters in eastern Washington are more likely to oppose the ban. Voters in western Washington and the Seattle Metro area were more split.
It’s not clear if state lawmakers will have a say in enacting Inslee’s goal. Others call the idea heavy handed. Yet and still, the great transition to electric vehicles is underway for homeowners who can charge their cars in a private garage, but for millions of renters, access to charging remains a significant barrier.
Another one of the big hurdles to adopting electric cars is figuring out where everyone will charge – public and private. A lot of people can’t charge at home like those that live in apartment buildings. That means a lot more charging stations will have to be built.
Power companies like Tacoma Power said it is preparing for the change. A ban on selling new gas-powered cars in our state will mean huge changes at your local dealer. Gov. Inslee said electric cars should replace gas-powered ones because of the climate crisis. Naysayers push the angle stating that electric cars are 50% cleaner in the end, but not completely clean transportation.
