California is banning the sale of gas-powered cars

California is set to ban the sale of gas cars within the next 15 years.

The motion will be voted on today (25 August) and will prohibit petrol-powered vehicles from being sold in the state by 2035, speeding up the transition to electric motors.

If successful, it will mean that all vehicles sold after this time will have to produce zero emissions.

Experts have branded the move 'huge' and believe it will help the state lead the way on environmental change in the country.

Daniel Sperling, who is a member of the California Air Resources Board, which is set to vote on the new rule, said he is '99.9 percent' certain it will go through.

As well as the end goal of no new gas-powered passenger cars, the rule would also sets interim targets, with 35 percent of new vehicles sold by 2026 producing zero emissions, increasing to 68 percent by 2030.

Electric vehicles expert Margo Oge told The New York Times: "This is huge. California will now be the only government in the world that mandates zero-emission vehicles. It is unique."

The ambitious targets date back a couple of years to an executive order signed by California governor Gavin Newsom, which demanded no new gas-powered cars in the state by 2035.

"This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change," he said in a statement at the time.

"For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma.

"Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse – and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines."

This comes after Washington introduced a 2030 ban on gas cars earlier this year.

The measure, which was called HB 1204 or 'Clean Cars 2030', bans the sale or registration of any non-electric vehicle manufactured from 2030.

The rule also applies to vehicles purchased out of state and brought to Washington to be registered.

Announcing the move back in March, governor Jay Inslee said it was an historic moment.

A post to his Instagram page read: "Today history was made with the signing of the 'Move Ahead Washington' transportation package.

"With historic funding for clean transportation options, we're finally moving away from the transportation system our grandparents imagined and towards one our grandchildren dream of."

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]