Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday rolled out particulars of a brand new program to supply prompt rebates of as much as $3,500 for Californians shopping for their first electrical autos — pitching the state-backed incentive as a direct rebuke to President Trump’s fossil gasoline push and rollback of federal EV assist.
“Whereas Donald Trump is hellbent on burning costlier fossil fuels and elevating prices for People, California is proving there’s a greater approach,” Newsom mentioned.
Trump has spent his second time period dismantling Biden-era EV insurance policies, together with blocking California’s landmark 2035 zero-emission car guidelines and transferring to unwind federal incentives and laws designed to speed up the shift away from gas-powered vehicles.
Nonetheless, not all Californians could also be shopping for what Newsom is promoting.
A ballot by the Public Coverage Institute of California discovered practically two-thirds of Californians oppose the governor’s plan to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
California is placing $135.5 million from the state funds into the rebate program, with taking part automakers matching the state’s contribution dollar-for-dollar for roughly $271 million in incentives. The state funds come from California’s controversial cap-and-invest program.
Hyundai, Lucid and Tesla have begun providing rebates by way of the state’s MyFirstEV program, in line with the governor’s workplace, permitting eligible consumers to get the low cost immediately on the dealership with out submitting an utility or ready for a reimbursement.
Ford, Rivian, Chevrolet and Kia are anticipated to affix this system later this month, adopted by Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Subaru in September and Mitsubishi in November. Nissan and Volvo haven’t but set launch dates.
This system presents $3,500 towards a brand new zero-emission car with a producer’s urged retail worth of as much as $50,000 and $1,750 towards a used car costing as much as $25,000 by way of taking part producers’ pre-owned packages.
The rebate is accessible to Californians buying their first zero-emission car. The state is placing $135.5 million into this system, with automakers offering a dollar-for-dollar match for $271 million in mixed incentives.
“California is exhibiting the world what actual financial safety seems to be like,” Newsom mentioned. “It’s one that may’t be held hostage by international conflicts and Huge Oil.”
He added, “The Golden State is main the cost on constructing a dependable, inexpensive clear future.”
Obtain The California Submit App, observe us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Submit Information: Fb, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Submit Sports activities Fb, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Submit Opinion
California Submit Newsletters: Join right here!
California Submit App: Obtain right here!
House supply: Join right here!
Web page Six Hollywood: Join right here!
Newsom’s EV announcement additionally trumpeted a serious milestone for California’s more and more renewable energy grid.
Battery storage capability has climbed to 21,112 megawatts, up from fewer than 700 megawatts when Newsom took workplace in 2019 — a rise of greater than 2,500%, in line with the administration.
Roughly 18,000 megawatts come from large-scale batteries related on to the electrical grid, whereas one other 3,000 megawatts are put in at houses, companies, farms and colleges.
The batteries are more and more used to retailer ample photo voltaic electrical energy throughout daylight and feed it again onto the ability grid after sundown, when California has historically relied extra closely on pure fuel.
Solar energy additionally surpassed pure fuel as California’s largest electrical energy supply throughout the first half of 2026 for the primary time, in line with the governor’s workplace.
State information present photo voltaic use jumped 22% from the primary six months of 2024 to the identical interval this 12 months, whereas pure fuel use plunged 51%. Battery capability grew 80% over that interval.
“California has all the time prioritized innovation, investing within the science and know-how of the long run and advancing the goalpost on what is feasible,” California Power Fee Chair David Hochschild mentioned in a press release.
“We’re seeing renewables and batteries carry out like by no means earlier than, proof that our imaginative and prescient of a 100% clear vitality future is completely doable.”
