California Governor Bans Gas Cars — Then Tells EV Owners Not to Charge

Last September, California issued an urgent alert: do not charge your electric vehicle between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

The grid was minutes from collapse.

Temperatures had spiked, and demand surged.

The state that just banned gas car sales by 2035 was telling EV owners to stop using electricity.

This was not a one-time event; it happens every summer now, and it is about to get much worse.

California is pushing 15 million electric vehicles onto a power grid that cannot support them, and the infrastructure needed to prevent blackouts does not exist yet.

Here’s where California stands right now.

In September 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order mandating that by 2035, every new passenger vehicle sold in California must be zero-emission.

That means electric or hydrogen—no more gas cars, no more hybrids.

The policy is locked in, and California currently has about 1.2 million electric vehicles on the road, the highest number in the nation.

By 2030, the state projects 5 million EVs on the road.

By 2035, analysts estimate that figure will rise to between 8 to 10 million.

By 2040, some models forecast 15 million electric vehicles.

Each EV adds significant electricity demand.

A typical electric car uses about 30 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles.

If you drive 12,000 miles a year, that amounts to roughly 3,600 kilowatt-hours annually.

Multiply that by millions of vehicles, and the math gets serious fast.

California’s grid already struggles during heat waves.

Peak summer demand hits around 50,000 megawatts, and the grid can supply that on good days.

But when temperatures spike above 100 degrees across multiple regions, supply tightens dangerously.

Add air conditioning, industrial use, and EV charging, and the system hits its breaking point.

Last summer, the California Independent System Operator issued multiple flex alerts—emergency warnings asking residents to reduce electricity use.

The message was clear: do not charge your car, do not run your dishwasher, and keep your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher.

If compliance fails, rolling blackouts begin.

This is happening now, before the EV mandate fully kicks in and before millions more EVs hit the roads.

There are five major reasons California’s grid cannot handle the EV transition.

First, the state is shutting down reliable power plants faster than it is building new capacity.

California has been aggressively closing natural gas power plants and retiring nuclear facilities.

Diablo Canyon, the state’s last nuclear plant, was scheduled for closure in 2025.

After intense pressure, officials delayed the shutdown, but the trend is clear: base load power is disappearing.

Natural gas plants provide power 24/7, ramping up when demand spikes and filling gaps when solar and wind drop off.

As these plants close, the grid loses its safety net.

Solar and wind are expanding rapidly, but they are intermittent.

Solar stops producing after sunset, and wind fluctuates unpredictably.

California’s peak electricity demand hits between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., which is exactly when solar generation drops to zero.

Energy storage could solve this problem, but California’s battery capacity is nowhere near sufficient.

The state has about 6,000 megawatts of battery storage installed, but analysts say it needs over 50,000 megawatts to stabilize a fully renewable grid—an eight-fold increase.

Building that capacity will take decades and cost tens of billions of dollars.

Second, EV charging will create massive new demand spikes.

Most people charge their cars at home, and most people get home from work between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

If millions of EV owners plug in simultaneously during those hours, the grid faces an enormous surge.

This phenomenon is known as demand clustering.

Studies suggest that unmanaged EV charging could increase peak demand by 20% or more.

With California’s grid already operating at the edge during peak hours, a 20% spike could trigger widespread blackouts.

Managed charging programs exist, offering incentives to charge overnight when demand is lower, but participation is voluntary, and human behavior does not always follow incentives.

When people need a charge, they plug in—period.

Third, upgrading the grid to handle EVs costs staggering amounts of money.

Transformers, substations, transmission lines, and local distribution networks—all of these systems were built for a different load profile.

Adding millions of EVs means replacing or upgrading infrastructure across the entire state.

The California Energy Commission estimates that grid upgrades could cost between $50 billion and $70 billion over the next 15 years.

That figure is just for hardware; it does not include permitting delays, land acquisition, or legal battles over new transmission lines.

Who pays for this?

Ratepayers.

Electricity prices in California are already the highest in the continental United States, with residential rates averaging around 30 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Some utilities charge over 40 cents during peak times.

Grid upgrades will push those prices even higher.

For context, Texas averages about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, while Florida is around 13 cents.

California customers already pay two to three times more.

As costs rise, the financial burden on households intensifies.

Fourth, permitting and construction timelines are dangerously slow.

Building a new transmission line in California can take 10 to 15 years due to environmental reviews, local opposition, and legal challenges.

Every project faces layers of bureaucracy.

The EV mandate timeline does not wait.

New electric cars hit the market every month, and charging infrastructure expands, but the grid that powers everything moves at a glacial pace.

California needs to build out capacity now to prepare for 2030 and 2035, but the projects starting today will not finish until the late 2030s.

The timing does not align, and the gap between the mandate and infrastructure widens every year.

Fifth, California’s energy policies create contradictory pressures.

The state wants zero-emission vehicles, but it also wants zero-emission electricity.

It is closing fossil fuel plants, limiting new natural gas projects, and pushing for all-electric homes.

All of this increases electricity demand while simultaneously reducing supply.

At the same time, California opposes new power plants that could stabilize the grid.

Nuclear power is politically toxic, despite being carbon-free and reliable.

Geothermal projects face regulatory hurdles, and even large-scale battery storage facilities encounter local resistance.

The result is a policy framework that demands more electricity while blocking the infrastructure needed to generate and deliver it.

Let’s walk through three scenarios for California’s grid over the next decade.

Best-case scenario: aggressive investment and policy adaptation.

In this version, California accelerates grid upgrades immediately.

The state fast-tracks permitting for transmission lines and battery storage.

Utilities invest heavily in smart grid technology that can manage EV charging in real time.

Diablo Canyon stays open, new geothermal projects come online, and large-scale battery farms are built near solar installations.

Managed charging programs achieve high participation rates, and time-of-use electricity pricing incentivizes overnight charging.

By 2030, the grid can handle 5 million EVs without major disruptions, and by 2035, infrastructure keeps pace with the EV mandate.

Blackouts become rare, and electricity prices stabilize or rise only modestly.

This outcome requires political will, massive capital investment, and streamlined regulation, as well as public cooperation with managed charging programs.

While this scenario is possible, it is difficult to achieve.

Base-case scenario: slow progress with recurring stress.

California continues current policies with incremental improvements.

Some grid upgrades happen, but not fast enough.

Battery storage expands but remains insufficient for peak demand management.

Flex alerts become routine every summer, and EV owners adapt by charging overnight when possible, but many still plug in during peak hours.

Rolling blackouts occur sporadically, especially during heat waves, and electricity prices rise steadily.

By 2030, residential rates could hit 40 to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, causing some households to struggle with electric bills.

Low-income communities face tough choices between cooling their homes and charging their vehicles.

The EV mandate stays in place, but adoption slows among price-sensitive buyers, with wealthier households going electric while lower-income families hold on to gas cars or buy used EVs with limited range.

The grid limps along, avoiding catastrophic failure but living with chronic instability.

Worst-case scenario: infrastructure collapse and policy reversal.

Grid upgrades stall due to funding shortfalls and permitting delays.

Battery storage projects face community opposition, and Diablo Canyon closes as planned without new base load power to replace it.

By 2028, summer blackouts become severe and prolonged.

Businesses face operational disruptions, data centers relocate, and manufacturing plants idle during peak hours.

EV adoption accelerates anyway due to the 2035 mandate, leading to millions of new electric cars flooding the roads.

Charging demand overwhelms the grid, and rolling blackouts expand from hours to days.

Public backlash intensifies, and voters demand action.

Politicians face a choice: scale back the EV mandate or double down on grid investment.

In this scenario, California delays the 2035 deadline, extends hybrid vehicle sales, or creates exemptions for certain vehicle classes.

The green transition slows, and the policy framework fractures.

This is the outcome nobody wants, but it becomes possible if infrastructure does not catch up.

If you are a California resident or considering an EV purchase, here is what you need to monitor and plan for.

First, track your local utility’s infrastructure plans.

Every major utility publishes reports on grid capacity and upgrade timelines.

Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric release annual updates.

Read them and understand what is coming to your area and when.

If your neighborhood is scheduled for grid upgrades, expect construction delays and potential temporary outages.

Plan accordingly.

If your area is not scheduled for upgrades, your grid might struggle as EV adoption grows.

Second, consider time-of-use electricity rates.

Most California utilities offer plans where electricity costs less at night and more during peak hours.

If you can charge your EV between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., you will save money and reduce grid stress.

Install a level two home charger with smart scheduling to automatically start charging during off-peak hours.

Some devices integrate with utility programs that adjust charging based on grid conditions.

Third, plan for flex alerts and potential blackouts.

Flex alerts will continue and probably increase, so have a backup plan.

If you rely on your EV for daily commuting, keep it charged above 50% at all times during summer months.

Don’t wait until the battery is near empty.

If you can work from home during heat waves, do it to reduce your need to drive on high-risk days.

If rolling blackouts hit your area, charging stations may go offline too.

Fourth, calculate the true cost of EV ownership in California.

An EV is not just the vehicle price; factor in home charging installation, which can run $1,000 to $3,000 for a level two charger.

Factor in rising electricity costs as well.

If rates hit 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, your annual charging cost could rival what you used to pay for gasoline.

Compare the long-term cost of an EV with a fuel-efficient hybrid.

In California’s current environment, hybrids offer flexibility, allowing you not to depend on the grid for every mile driven.

Fifth, stay informed about policy changes.

California’s energy and transportation policies shift constantly, so follow state energy commission announcements and track legislation affecting EV mandates and grid funding.

Understand how these decisions impact your household.

If you see signs that the 2035 mandate might be delayed or modified, adjust your vehicle purchase plans accordingly.

If you notice major grid investments announced, that’s a positive signal for long-term EV viability.

Sixth, consider solar and home battery storage.

If you own a home, rooftop solar paired with a battery system gives you energy independence.

You can charge your EV with your own electricity, ride out blackouts, and reduce reliance on the grid.

While the upfront cost is high—solar arrays plus battery storage can run $30,000 to $50,000—California offers incentives and tax credits.

For some households, the math works; for others, it remains out of reach.

Seventh, advocate for realistic policy.

Contact your state representatives and tell them that grid infrastructure must match EV mandates.

Support candidates who prioritize grid investment and streamline permitting.

Push for policies that balance environmental goals with infrastructure reality.

California’s energy future depends on voters demanding practical solutions, not just symbolic mandates.

Let’s recap the five key points.

One, California mandates 100% EV sales by 2035, but the grid cannot support that transition yet.

Two, the state is closing reliable power plants while demand is surging, creating summer blackout risks.

Three, grid upgrades could cost $50 billion to $70 billion, and construction timelines stretch over a decade.

Four, in the best case, California invests aggressively and adapts; in the worst case, the grid collapses and the mandate gets delayed.

Five, if you’re an EV owner or considering one, plan for higher electricity costs, manage charging times, and monitor infrastructure developments closely.