A retired Ripon College economist thinks California’s decision to phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars will have an impact nationwide. The California Air Resources Board last week voted to require 100 percent of new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state to be powered by electricity or hydrogen by 2035. Economist Paul Schoofs says this policy will only accelerate the electric vehicle trend across the country. The policy doesn’t ban the sale of used gas cars or make people get rid of cars they already own. It would allow 20 percent of sales to be plug-in hybrids, which can run on batteries and gas.
