Republican governor refuses to adopt California-imposed EV mandate

Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that his state will be passing on adopting electric vehicle mandates passed by the California Air Resources Board. 

“EV mandates like California’s are unworkable and out of touch with reality, and thankfully the law does not bind us to their regulations. California does not control which cars Virginians buy,” Youngkin said in a statement. 

In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that allowed Virginia’s Air Board to adopt California’s original EV mandate. Recently, CARB adopted a more stringent mandate that would require 100% of new cards sold in the model year 2035 to be electric vehicles. This tougher mandate was set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. 

Virginia’s attorney general issued an opinion that the state’s law does not, as written, require Virginia to follow California’s stricter EV mandate. After 2024, Virginia will follow federal emissions standards. 

Derrick Morgan, executive vice president of the Heritage Foundation, praised the move. 

“California’s idea of forcing everyone to buy an EV is a bad idea for small businesses, farmers, customers, car dealers, and manufacturers. It should have no place in Virginia. Attorney General Miyares and Governor Youngkin are right to stick up for Virginians to make their own choices,” Morgan said in a statement.