Only days after California announced it will ban gas-powered car sales by 2025, doubt is rising over its ability to support electric vehicles. The state warned on Tuesday that energy shortages are expected through Labor Day.
California bans the sale of new gas-powered cars
Last week, California, which has the most registered automobiles in the country with 14.2 million as of 2020, voted to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, CNBC reported.
Beginning in 2026, automakers will be forced to speed up the production of cleaner vehicles until only zero-emission vehicles are allowed to be sold in the state, which for all intents and purposes means California’s 38 million residents will have no choice but to buy electric vehicles.
Several states plan to follow California’s lead in gasoline-powered vehicle ban
At least 15 states are backing California’s zero-emissions vehicle requirements, ABC reported. Virginia and New York will phase out gas cars by 2035, and Massachusetts plans to follow suit, according to The Hill.
California warns of Labor Day energy shortage
While California is forcing automakers and residents to transition to electric vehicles, the state already appears to be unable to keep up with electricity demand.
“Because the weekend’s heat wave will align with high temperatures throughout the West, California’s ability to import power from neighboring states may be limited, according to the grid operator,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
For example, back in 2011, California was getting about a third of San Diego’s power from Arizona, according to National Geographic.
The California Independent System Operator, which manages the state’s electrical power grid, issued a warning on Tuesday that customers are likely to see a series of Flex Alerts over the next several days, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Don’t charge that car!
“Flex alerts are voluntary calls for conservation during the afternoon and evening hours, when energy use tends to soar. Residents will be asked to turn up their thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoid using dishwashers or other large appliances, and hold off on charging their electric vehicles, all during the 4-9 p.m. time frame.”
California’s energy grid not capable of all-electric vehicle scenario
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, in order for California to move to all-electric vehicles by 2035, it would require the state to expand its energy grid capacity by 30 percent. Officials claim that goal is feasible within ten years.
However, critics say a bigger problem is not electricity but sourcing enough lithium for the batteries. China currently supplies 80 percent of the world’s lithium. The materials used in the production of electric vehicle batteries are also criticized for the massive mining effort required to acquire all the raw materials.
California’s ongoing energy problems and blackouts
California has had a history of energy shortages. With a population of over 38 million, the state is dealing with a lot of demand; in fact, it’s the second-highest total energy demand in the nation. However, due to its mild climates, the state actually has one of the lowest rates of per capita energy consumption in the US, National Geographic reported.
While California is attempting to move toward renewables, about half of its consumption is fueled by natural gas, 14 percent by hydroelectric power, and 11 percent from renewable resources. In 2009, California set a goal of acquiring 33 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
History of rolling blackouts
In the 1990s, electric utilities in California were deregulated. This led to higher wholesale energy costs, as well as serious financial problems for many of the state’s electric utility companies.
In 2000 and 2001, a series of significant rolling blackouts were suffered throughout California. Despite steps to prevent them, another major blackout occurred in 2005. Then again in 2011. Adding to California’s energy woes was the shutting down of the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station.
