As the popularity of electric vehicles grows, will the gas engine become an endangered species?
The short answer is no, or at least not in the next couple of decades. There are just too many gas-engine cars on the road, with after-market suppliers and local garages supporting the repair of internal combustion engines.
Even so, your next new car could be an EV. You may be wondering, is now the time to buy an electric vehicle? Fiat Chrysler gave motorheads a stir in mid August when it announced that it will shut down production of its gas-powered Dodge Charger and Challenger at the end of 2023—and hopes to produce its electric muscle car, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept. General Motors announced last year that it plans to offer a fully electric fleet by 2035. And Ford, the last of the Big Three automakers, has pledged that 40% of its global sales will be EVs by 2030.
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Recent regulation out of California is also spelling impending doom of the IC engine. The California Air Resources Board approved a plan to reduce air pollution by requiring 100% of new cars sold in 2035 to be zero-emissions vehicles, including plug-in hybrids. The regulation will take effect in phases, so starting in 2026, for example, only 35% of new vehicles must be considered zero-emission, with this percentage increasing to 68% by 2030 and 100% by 2035. However, the key language in the CARB regulation is the phrase “including plug-in hybrids,” meaning the IC engine still has road to run.
A plug-in hybrid has a battery and an electric motor, but it also has an internal combustion drivetrain. Once you drive past the vehicle’s electric range of, say, 30 miles, the gas engine kicks in. So even in California—and a number of other states that are likely to adopt its emission rules—you could buy a brand-new car that has an internal combustion engine in it in 2036.
Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.com, also cites the limits on precious metals needed for batteries. “There simply isn’t enough lithium out there, which suggests we are going to run out. It’s the same conversation of oil being a finite resource,” he says. But a battery breakthrough is possible. The World Economic Forum says EV-battery recycling could help cover the lithium demand, as could better extracting methods. Scientists are also working on alternatives such as sodium-ion batteries.
FAQs
Can I still drive my gasoline car after 2035? Yes. Even after 2035, gasoline cars can still be driven in California, registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and sold as a used car to a new owner.
Will gasoline ever be phased out? ›
While the US has not yet joined the many countries setting phaseout date, multiple states have committed to follow California's Advanced Clean Cars II (“ACC II”) regulation to end sales of new gas cars by 2035. Read more below.
Will gas cars be around in 5 years? ›
It's safe to say, the reliance and acceptance of gas vehicles will remain for years to come. Purchasing a new vehicle powered by gasoline remains possible across all 50 states until 2035. This is according to USA Today in an article published just recently.
Will there be gas cars in 30 years? ›
It was hailed as a landmark decision for the environment: The California Air Resources Board voted in August to require that all new automobiles and light trucks sold in the state be zero emission by 2035. The move, aimed at tackling climate change, has been cheered by many. Just not mom-and-pop gas station owners.
Will gas cars ever be illegal? ›
California is gearing up to prohibit the sale of new gas-powered cars. A measure approved by the California Air Resources Board in August 2022 requires all new cars, SUVs and pickup trucks sold in the state to generate zero tailpipe emissions by 2035.
Will there be gas cars in 2050? ›
In a report last month, Thunder Said Energy, a Europe-based energy research firm run by industry analyst Rob West, said that even if 97% of new car sales in the developed world are fully electric in 2050, there will be about 1 billion gasoline-powered and hybrid vehicles on the world's roads that year.
Will we have gas in 50 years? ›
Conclusion: how long will fossil fuels last? It is predicted that we will run out of fossil fuels in this century. Oil can last up to 50 years, natural gas up to 53 years, and coal up to 114 years. Yet, renewable energy is not popular enough, so emptying our reserves can speed up.
What will happen to gas stations after 2035? ›
Gas station numbers have been decreasing at a sharp rate in the past three decades and the trend is expected to continue, with at least a quarter of service stations globally at risk of closure by 2035 without significant business model tweaks, according to consulting firm BCG.
Will gas be around in 20 years? ›
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), natural gas reserves in the United States are estimated to last about another 86 years if production and consumption levels remain consistent.
Will electric cars be mandatory? ›
Several states, including California, New Jersey and Virginia, have issued mandates that all new vehicles sold beginning in 2035 are to be electric vehicles.
Given all the constraints, experts expect gas cars and trucks to be available until at least 2050, though a handful of states will phase them out as soon as 2035. To date, those states include California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
What is the average lifespan of a gas vehicle? ›
With regular use, the average lifespan of a gas vehicle is 150,000 miles or eight years, and EVs can last up to 200,000 miles, or about 12 years.
Will gas be cheaper in 2035? ›
A state mandate will phase out sales of new internal combustion cars and light trucks by 2035. The retail price of gasoline is likely to rise as refineries and other industry players seek to maximize profit before demand for the product fades away.
How long do electric cars last? ›
Many experts peg the lifespan of an EV battery at between 100,000 and 200,000 miles. If your EV's battery fails before that, it will likely be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Will there still be gas cars in 2040? ›
On Wednesday, six major automakers—including Ford, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz—and 30 national governments signed a pledge to stop sales of new gas and diesel vehicles by 2040 globally, and by 2035 in “leading markets.” However, the governments of three of the most significant car markets—the United States, China ...
Will gas stations be gone in 2035? ›
The world is not coming to an end in 2035. Gas stations aren't going to plummet to their death. When they do it will be a slow economic death as most today are being built on parcels of high future development value.
How long will we be able to use gas cars? ›
Given all the constraints, experts expect gas cars and trucks to be available until at least 2050, though a handful of states will phase them out as soon as 2035. To date, those states include California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
