California regulators voted Thursday to ban the sale of all new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.

The move comes as the state looks to aggressively tackle the climate crisis. Cars, trucks and SUVs that run on gasoline are some of the largest producers of carbon emissions that pollute the environment.

California's new rule says that 100% of new vehicles sold in the state by 2035 must not emit greenhouse gases. The regulators also set an interim goal of having 35% of new cars sold produce zero emissions by 2026, with a 68% goal for 2030.

Drivers will still be able to operate previously owned gasoline-powered vehicles, as well as purchase used gas-powered vehicles. The state is also allowing for a portion of new cars sold to be hybrid gas-electric vehicles.

About 16% of cars sold in California in the first three months of 2022 were electric, according to the Associated Press. Over the past 12 years, California has provided more than $1 billion in rebates for the sale of 478,000 electric, plug-in or hybrid vehicles, the AP said.

A critical hurdle the state must overcome to meet the new rule is expanding access to electric charging stations. Although last year's $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed by Congress contained earmarks to build charging stations every 50 miles along interstate highways, the state will have to spend billions more to build a fully reliable charging network. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he hopes to make adding stations in low-income neighborhoods a priority.

“The climate crisis is solvable if we focus on the big, bold steps necessary to stem the tide of carbon pollution,” Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. 

The passage of the ban also comes as the reliability of electric grids comes into renewed focus amid unprecedented weather events.