California’s gas-car phaseout brings turmoil to mom-and-pop gas stations
California’s gas-car phaseout brings turmoil to mom-and-pop gas stations
The gas-car phaseout of the California Energy Commission’s proposed rules is bringing uncertainty and turmoil for some of the nation’s gas stations.
The commission says that in light of a California law requiring new cars to have an electric option by 2017, no gas-powered car sold in California can be considered fuel-efficient until the electric-vehicle mandate is met.
The gas station on West Colfax Street in Sacramento is not offering free gas anymore. The owners of the station say they are offering free gas only to employees, whose paychecks are paid by the gallon.
The gas station on West Colfax Street in Sacramento is not offering free gas anymore. The owners of the station say they are offering free gas only to employees, whose paychecks are paid by the gallon.
(Steve Yeater, USA TODAY)
Gas prices are on the rise again, and demand is rising even faster. The problem is that the current system designed to meet the demand doesn’t work.
“Gas will be a major issue in 2015,” says Greg Burt, executive director of the American Automobile Association. “I really don’t see the current car-pooling situation as adequate.”
While Burt didn’t offer a solution for the industry, he noted how the future is getting more exciting as car technology becomes more important.
“Everybody thinks electric cars are just going to end up being the new gas vehicles,” Burt says. “I think that by the year 2020, more and more people are going to look at cars and say, ‘This is like an electric car.’ “
So what will solve the industry’s challenge? There are many, but three companies at the center of the debate stand out.
BMW is building a factory in Alabama for its all-electric Z4 compact.
The automaker says the new Z4 has a range of 100 miles on a charge in the EV mode and 115 miles in the hybrid mode, with an estimated annual cost of under $30,000.
Volvo is building a factory in Alabama for its all-electric XC60 luxury cars, which will compete