This past September, reports surfaced that Jerry Brown, California Governor, was looking at the potential around banning new cars produced with gas engines in the state. Back then, no date was listed as states were only pondering this concept. Still, it seems that a bill is being created where statewide gasoline-powered auto registrations may be banned in California, beginning in the year 2040.

That’s a bit of a ways away, but still, the wheels are being put in motion.

Reports indicate that California’s chair of the budget committee and assemblymember Phil Tang is working on introducing a bill that would only allow DMVs across the state to register vehicles that do not emit carbon dioxide. This would include electric cars as well as those that run on alternate fuels, starting in 2040.

Motortrend reported Ting was saying that until a deadline is set, nothing will get done. He added that it is responsible for them to set a deadline of 23 years ahead. Makes sense, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

At the end of the day, things take time and work. Ting noted that the plan is to introduce the bill in January when the legislative session for the new year begins. Should it pass, this would be a large step in the right direction to decrease emissions by 2050. Right now, the goal is to decrease statewide emissions by 80% from where they were at in 1990.

Banning fossil fuel vehicles might be a tad controversial, but the support is there from many lawmakers. As Head of California Air Resources Board, Mary Nichols stated in September of this year, she has received a ton of messages from the governor asking why something has not been done already. She added that the governor wondered why China was able to do something like this and California hasn’t.

It is being reported that Britain and France plan to ban sales of gas-powered vehicles by 2040.