California’s electric vehicle (EV) push under Governor Gavin Newsom faces mounting challenges as sales figures reveal a persistent slowdown, despite the state’s aggressive efforts to enforce a ban on new gas-powered cars by 2035. With results suffering ahead of a September deadline, reports indicate he is “panicking.”
Recent data shows that EV registrations in the second quarter of 2025 barely edged up from the previous quarter, while dropping significantly compared to the same period last year, raising questions about the viability of mandates that override consumer choice.
The California Energy Commission reported that 100,671 zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) were registered from April to June, accounting for 21.6% of new vehicle sales. This figure represents a modest increase from the first quarter’s 100,326 but a notable decline from the 116,813 seen in the second quarter of 2024. Overall, the state’s ZEV market share has trended downward, slipping from 25.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 23% in the first quarter of 2025 before hitting its current low.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported:
The number of EVs registered between April and June in the Golden State came to 100,671, according to figures released by the California Energy Commission. That’s ever so slightly higher than the first-quarter figure of 100,326 but noticeably lower than the 116,813 registrations seen in the second quarter of 2024.
What’s more, the market share for sales of zero-emission vehicles dropped to 21.6% from April through June, down from 23% in the first quarter and 25.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
These trends persist even as federal incentives, including a $7,500 tax credit for new EVs and $4,000 for used ones, are set to expire on September 30, 2025. Additionally, EVs will lose their longstanding privilege of accessing carpool lanes without passengers after that date, a perk that has been in place for two decades. Such deadlines might have been expected to spur a buying rush, but the numbers suggest otherwise, pointing to deeper issues like high upfront costs, lengthy charging times, and widespread “range anxiety” among drivers worried about running out of power mid-trip.
Newsom first unveiled the EV mandate in September 2020, just weeks after a statewide power outage prompted officials to urge residents not to charge their vehicles during peak hours. The policy, finalized in 2022, aims to phase out sales of gas-powered cars entirely by 2035. Yet, as sales faltered by late 2024, the mandate’s future grew uncertain.
The situation escalated in May 2025 when the U.S. Senate voted to revoke the Environmental Protection Agency’s waiver that had allowed California to impose stricter emissions rules than federal standards. President Donald Trump signed the repeal into law in June, effectively blocking the state’s authority to enforce the ban.
In response, Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by 10 other states, filed a lawsuit on June 12 challenging the congressional action as unlawful. The governor also signed an executive order that same day to reinforce the state’s commitment to clean vehicles, directing agencies to explore new policies and accelerate infrastructure development.
“This Senate vote is illegal,” Newsom stated in May, accusing Republicans of bypassing procedural norms to undermine decades of state autonomy on air quality.
State officials attribute the sales dip to external factors, including the federal repeal and reduced incentives, with the California Energy Commission noting that Tesla registrations plummeted 21% in the quarter—from 52,119 in Q2 2024 to 41,138—while non-Tesla ZEV sales held steady.
CEC Commissioner Nancy Skinner remarked, “Despite Trump’s full-on attack, Californians are choosing the clean simplicity of ZEVs. We are saying no to inhaling fumes at gas stations and handling dirty gas nozzles.”
CARB Chair Liane Randolph added, “This quarter’s modest decline in zero-emission vehicle sales is no surprise given the federal government’s misguided and ongoing assault on clean transportation.”
Critics, however, argue that the stagnation reflects fundamental flaws in top-down mandates that ignore market realities and consumer preferences. Nationwide, EV sales reached a record 607,089 in the first half of 2025, up 1.5% year-over-year, but California’s share—27% of U.S. totals—has not kept pace with expectations under its stringent rules. While proponents tout over 178,000 public charging ports and grants for low-income buyers, infrastructure gaps and grid strain remain concerns, especially in a state prone to blackouts.
This scenario underscores the pitfalls of government overreach in dictating energy choices. As litigation drags on, California’s EV ambitions may force residents to confront higher costs and limited options, all while sales data signals that true progress comes from innovation and affordability, not coercion. With the 2035 deadline looming, the outcome of this battle could reshape transportation policy far beyond the Golden State.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
