The fight to ban gas-powered cars in the 1960s
In the 1960s, California senator Nicholas Petris proposed a gas-powered car ban due to pollution concerns. His efforts inspired future legislation, leading to California's current 2035 ban on new gas vehicle sales.
Read original article
In the 1960s, California state senator Nicholas Petris initiated a significant but largely forgotten campaign to ban gas-powered cars due to rising air pollution and smog, particularly in Los Angeles. Petris, who had witnessed the transition from electric and steam vehicles to internal combustion engines, became increasingly concerned about the health impacts of smog, which was linked to automobile emissions. After years of legislative efforts to address air quality, he proposed a radical bill in 1967 to limit each family to one gas-powered car by 1975, which he later revised to a complete ban on internal combustion vehicles. Despite initial ridicule and opposition from the auto industry, his bill gained traction, especially after a major oil spill in 1969 heightened public awareness of environmental issues. The California Senate passed the bill, but it ultimately failed in the Assembly due to intense lobbying from car manufacturers and dealers. Nevertheless, Petris's efforts inspired similar initiatives across the country, highlighting the growing environmental movement. Today, California is again at the forefront of efforts to phase out gas-powered vehicles, with a ban on new sales set for 2035, echoing the challenges faced by Petris over fifty years ago.
- Nicholas Petris campaigned in the 1960s to ban gas-powered cars due to air pollution concerns.
- His initial proposal faced ridicule but gained support after environmental crises.
- The California Senate passed the ban, but it failed in the Assembly due to industry lobbying.
- Petris's efforts inspired similar legislation across the U.S., marking a pivotal moment in the environmental movement.
- California is currently pursuing a ban on new gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035, reflecting ongoing debates about emissions and climate change.
Related
Massachusetts 'Reviewing' Kei Car Ban After Uproar over Canceled Registrations
Massachusetts is reviewing its kei car ban amid owner protests and registration issues. The RMV's interpretations of safety standards are criticized, while some owners have successfully registered their vehicles.
1970 Clean Air Act was intended to cover carbon dioxide
A study from Harvard and Duke University argues the 1970 Clean Air Act was meant to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, challenging the Supreme Court's ruling on the EPA's authority over greenhouse gases.
New CA electric trains may signal notoriously laggard US joining rest of world
California has launched two all-electric commuter trains, enhancing rail electrification efforts. The trains are faster and quieter, reducing pollution, but U.S. adoption lags due to industry opposition and costs.
No smoking in your own home, California city orders residents
Carlsbad, California, will ban smoking and vaping in multi-family residences starting January, aiming to improve public health. Enforcement relies on landlords and tenants, facing criticism for potential government overreach.
Bay Watch: Northern California is an energy catastrophe waiting to happen
Chevron is relocating its headquarters from California to Texas due to regulatory conflicts, raising concerns about the future of its refineries and gasoline supply in Northern California.
8 commentsI'm continually amazed at how many journalists just refuse to do basic due diligence on this regulation. To quote the 2nd paragraph of his source for this claim (his own publication btw):
> The new rule will “ensure that consumers can successfully replace their traditional combustion vehicles with new or used [zero-emission vehicles] and plug-in hybrids that meet their transportation needs,” she added.
Top-to-bottom and left-to-right no one seems to care that "California to ban all gas-powered cars" and "California to ban all cars exclusively powered by gas" are wildly different statements with wildly different outcomes.
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/cars-and-light-tr...
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00489...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32109813/
IMHO gasoline Particulate filters (GPF) for gas vehicles should be mandatory the way they are for diesels (DPF).
https://www.npr.org/2021/08/30/1031429212/the-world-has-fina...
“”” … his intention to introduce a bill that would limit each California family to just one gas-powered car beginning in 1975. “[The] internal combustion engine is pouring out poison,” Petris … “””
Never heard of him, but too bad Petris did not succeed. We would be in a far different place now.
>the Supreme Court may well be preparing to eliminate California’s authority to set tougher auto emissions standards than the federal government
No surprise here, we all know over half the US Supreme Court only cares how much they can extort from the very rich. Doing this will probably head the world into somekind of mild mad max world.
While I agree that electrics are clean steam vehicles still use combustion and were not as efficient as a piston ICE. Plus the driver had to play boiler operator and ensure there was a steady fuel supply and feed water. Kinda stopped reading after that matter-of-fact hyperbole and just skimmed the rest.
There are some neat videos of vintage British coal fired steam trucks which are really neat (they sounds like mini road steam locomotives) but the emissions make a burning tire seem clean.
Related
Massachusetts 'Reviewing' Kei Car Ban After Uproar over Canceled Registrations
Massachusetts is reviewing its kei car ban amid owner protests and registration issues. The RMV's interpretations of safety standards are criticized, while some owners have successfully registered their vehicles.
1970 Clean Air Act was intended to cover carbon dioxide
A study from Harvard and Duke University argues the 1970 Clean Air Act was meant to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, challenging the Supreme Court's ruling on the EPA's authority over greenhouse gases.
New CA electric trains may signal notoriously laggard US joining rest of world
California has launched two all-electric commuter trains, enhancing rail electrification efforts. The trains are faster and quieter, reducing pollution, but U.S. adoption lags due to industry opposition and costs.
No smoking in your own home, California city orders residents
Carlsbad, California, will ban smoking and vaping in multi-family residences starting January, aiming to improve public health. Enforcement relies on landlords and tenants, facing criticism for potential government overreach.
Bay Watch: Northern California is an energy catastrophe waiting to happen
Chevron is relocating its headquarters from California to Texas due to regulatory conflicts, raising concerns about the future of its refineries and gasoline supply in Northern California.