For California to achieve a clean energy future, we need to rethink our transportation solutions. Electric vehicles alone are not the answer.
On August 25, the Golden State proposed a ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered cars and light trucks, to take action by 2035. California’s transportation sector accounts for about half the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, so in that respect, such an ambitious policy makes sense. But with few car-free alternatives available, such a ban would pose significant challenges to Californians.
A recent migrant to Orange County, I spent my first year here car-free. That entailed walking or biking across highway entrances with no crossing light, waiting 15 minutes for Ubers, and taking an Amtrak to Los Angeles that would sometimes be 20 minutes late without warning. This Fourth of July, fireworks caused a wildfire on the tracks, leaving my train stranded for an hour. That’s when I caved and bought my first car. I couldn’t afford an EV or hybrid, so I settled on a gasoline-powered Honda CR-V.
I’m a climate advocate who hates driving. If I couldn’t handle California without a car, our clean transportation goals are in trouble.
Of the five most populated cities in the United States, Los Angeles ranks fourth in walkability, bikeability, and public transit — that’s not great. While some cities like San Francisco perform well in these categories, many score low across the board, leaving driving the only viable option.
It’s worse in the suburbs. In September, Amtrak and MetroLink had to suspend service along part of the Orange County train line for emergency repairs. That was two months ago, and there’s still no word on when the train will reopen. That’s a bad look for a state aiming to lead the country in clean transportation.
But say everyone switches to an EV — our problems don’t go away. In fact, they multiply.
EVs may reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they require cobalt and lithium mining which are intertwined with environmental and human rights concerns. Not to mention they’re expensive, and they’ll do nothing to address California’s ridiculous traffic. In 2021, INRIX ranked the I-5 South as the most congested roadway in the country, costing the average driver 89 hours annually. A trip to LA takes 35 minutes with no traffic and nearly two hours in rush hour. Any time I call my family now they ask “are you driving to LA or from LA?” — knowing I’m probably bored, stuck in traffic.
Midterm election results suggested that California voters aren’t all-in on electric vehicles either. 59% of voters struck down Prop. 30, a ballot measure to tax wealthy Californians to raise funds for EVs. The initiative was riddled with issues — even Gov. Gavin Newsom opposed it — but nonetheless, this rebuke of Prop. 30 indicates voters’ reservations about putting all our eggs in the EV basket.
A switch to EV would also significantly strain California’s grid, which already faces supply challenges. In 2019, California was by far the largest electricity importer of all U.S. states. Furthermore, the state has been restricting natural gas and eliminating coal almost entirely. That’s fantastic news for the climate, but with almost 30 million vehicles in California right now, today’s grid would not be able to handle the extra load of everyone going electric.
Heat waves exacerbate the issue. Days after the announcement of the ban, the American Southwest was thrust into one of the longest and hottest heat waves ever recorded. During these extreme conditions, people consumed significantly more electricity for air conditioning, nearly forcing rolling blackouts. That’s with only 563,070 EVs on the road — imagine if every California driver went electric?
Climate scientists project that California will see more frequent, intense, and prolonged heat waves in the coming years. If the electric grid can’t keep up with resulting demand surges, blackouts will ensue, and drivers will be left with dead batteries and no alternatives.
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To California’s credit, the state has been investing heavily into the grid. Currently, we have 150 times the battery capacity we did two years ago, the largest complex of geothermal power plants in the world, $80.8 billion in solar investments, a new 399-square-mile offshore wind development envelope, and a plan to extend operations of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. These exciting developments could help the climate and boost our electricity supply.
But to put all of that electricity and more toward tens of millions of EVs and not at least try to lighten the load by becoming more walkable, bikeable, and public-transit-friendly would be ridiculously inefficient.
A clean transportation transition is not just a climate initiative — it’s an opportunity to improve transportation for Californians. EVs alone won’t solve all our problems. If the Golden State intends to follow through with this gasoline-powered car ban, we need major improvements to our car-free alternatives. Otherwise, we’re headed for one expensive, blacked-out traffic jam.
Ethan Brown is a contributor for Young Voices with a B.A. in Environmental Analysis & Policy from Boston University. He is the creator and host of The Sweaty Penguin, a comedy climate podcast presented by PBS/WNET’s national climate initiative “Peril and Promise.” Follow him on Twitter @ethanbrown5151.