Zero-Emission Vehicles Dominates 2022 All New Car Sales with 18.8% Sold in California

As California aims to achieve net zero carbon pollution and transitions the state to zero-emission vehicles and dominates the ZEV market, the latest data for 2022 shows that their efforts are not going to waste as it accelerates and improves day by day.

(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
A truck pulls a car carrier trailer as cars, SUVs, and other vehicles drive in traffic on the 405 freeway through the Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles, California, on August 25, 2022. - California ruled Thursday that all new cars sold in America's most populous state must be zero emission from 2035, in what was billed as a "nation-leading" step to slash the pollutants that cause global warming.

California's ZEV Sales

California announced the latest data regarding its transition to zero-emission vehicles in the state. In a report from Engadget, electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles garnered 18% of all new car sales in 2022.

Residents from California bought 345,818 zero-emission vehicles, a 38% increase from 2021 and a 138% increase from 2020. Two-thirds of the accumulated bought vehicles were made by automaker Tesla.

Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the state has been continuing to lead this revolution of transitioning the world with zero-emission vehicles as they introduced new policies and investments that drive innovation, create jobs, and expand access and affordability for ZEVs.

"Keeping our focus on the communities that are most impacted by the intensifying climate crisis, we'll keep pushing ahead to make our clean transportation future a reality in California." he added.

CleanTechnica reported that the state garnered 1,399,913 cumulative ZEV sales in 2022, and 40% of ZEVs sold in the United States are sold in California. Meanwhile, around 80,000 shared electric vehicle charges were installed across the bear flag state.

State Actions and Efforts

California listed their efforts to support the market of ZEV based on its official website. The California Energy Commission Approved a $2.9 billion investment plan last December. This accelerates their plan in 2025 for electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling goals.

In November, a $2.6 billion investment plan was approved by the California Air Resources Board as an effort to support a wide range of projects related to ZEV. This was California's largest-ever investment in the equitable expansion of clear transportation. The 70% of the budget was dedicated for disadvantaged and low-income communities.

All of these efforts led to a success as the state became a top export for ZEVs and has spurred major advancements when it comes to manufacturing and producing a vehicle. Around 55 ZEV and ZEV-related manufacturers and automakers are located in California.

Autonomous EV Plan

California also announced last September a new plan to make all its autonomous vehicles-zero emission starting in 2030, meaning that government officials will be trying to restrict traditional vehicles operated on the state's roads.

Newsom signed a bill, and the latest approved law states that all gas-based and hybrid-powered autonomous cars should no longer run by the said year. This led to 15 more states releasing similar bills to make their own running vehicles zero-emission.