The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality approved a rule that effectively prohibits the sale of new cars, SUVs, and light-duty pickups with combustion-powered engines, whether gasoline or diesel. Summoned Advanced Clean Car II (ACC), the rules require all new vehicle sales in Oregon to be 100 percent electric by 2035, although there are some exceptions.
Sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles will be permitted, although there are no clear criteria regarding the electric-only range. ACC II also specifically mentions light-duty trucks, but doesn’t address heavy-duty models like the Ford Super Duty, Silverado HD, or Ram HD pickup. The ruling does not affect used fuel-fueled vehicles, nor does it prohibit the sale of used cars with petrol or diesel engines. Additionally, ACC II prevents sales in the states, however no purchase or registration of a vehicle. In theory, the buyer could go abroad to buy a new car without any problems.
While the 100 percent electricity mandate doesn’t kick in until 2035, ACC II goes into effect soon with a variety of requirements manufacturers will have to meet in the coming years. According to reports from Oregon Live, the first phase down in 2026 requires sales of zero emission vehicles by 35 percent. The report also states automakers are required to make EVs more accessible to lower-income households and communities of color.
ACC II passed the Environmental Quality Commission in a 3-1 vote on December 19. Of the approximately 700 comments on the matter the Commission received, 500 reportedly supported the action.
“With today’s adoption of ACC Rule II, everyone living in Oregon will benefit from the cleaner air and better public health outcomes achieved by reducing pollution from transportation,” said DEQ Interim Director Leah Feldon. “This is especially true for the low-income and underrepresented communities across the state who live closest to highways and are most frequently impacted by poor air quality.”
In August 2022, California approved a decision to discontinue sales of combustion-powered vehicles by 2035. Many US states are now considering similar actions.
