California regulators introduce new plan to increase the number of zero-emissions vehicles on the road by 2025

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced a new mandate, which was approved by vote last week, which would require 15% of the new cars sold in the state to be electric, hybrid or powered by hydrogen fuel by 2025.

The mandate has a wealth of support from major automakers, including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Nissan and Honda. Each of these manufacturers has plans to release hydrogen-powered or electric vehicles to the consumer market in 2013 or 2014.

California residents have also shown their support for the initiative, believing it to be beneficial for the environment. Car dealers, however, have expressed concern over the mater. Dealers claim that the market has been too sluggish to adopt alternative power and consumer may not warm up to these vehicles despite their apparent enthusiasm.

The state has plans to provide incentives for consumers looking to purchase clean vehicles, but it is impossible to tell how successful these cars will be until they have had a run in the market.

CARB believes that the new regulation will help the state meet its emissions cutting goals and, by extent, help the rest of the nation. Only time will tell whether the efforts of lawmakers and the auto industry will actually accomplish this aim. For now, the focus will remain on promoting alternatively powered vehicles amongst consumers that are looking to make a change in their lives.