A proposal by California state regulators will have 15% of new vehicles sold in 2025 to be zero emissions or low emissions. The new rules would force automakers to increase the number of electric and hybrid vehicles starting in 2018. Similar regulations have been proposed in the past, but were rejected because electric vehicle technology was not ready for the consumer market. Now with electric vehicles becoming common with many automobile manufacturers, regulators feel their proposal is achievable and should be looked at again.

According to the California Air Resources Board, the release of the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf, last year is the first step to achieving their goals. Almost every automobile manufacturer has low emission technology, making it easy for the consumer to find a vehicle to suit their needs. The proposal, however, can only be achieved if consumers are willing to buy the vehicles. Many consumers are hesitant about the limited range and higher purchase price of the environmentally friendly vehicles. But, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, high gas prices and government rebates should eventually have consumers warming up to the idea of electric and alternative energy vehicles.