The California Air Resources Board's decision to phase out fossil fuel-powered cars in the state by 2035 was an important step toward cleaning up the air and addressing climate change. However, as is the case for any major technological and economic transition, there will be winners and losers. Mom-and-pop gas station owners seem likely to fall into the latter category.

According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, there are a little over 5,000 independent gas station owners in California, and they're already something of an endangered species. In interviews with the Los Angeles Times, many of these owners said the state mandate will accelerate the demise of their business model.

"Most of the independents will be put out of business—completely out of business," said Charles Khalil, who owns two gas stations in the LA area.

"When the gas [cars] go away, I don't know how many customers I would lose," said Adnan Ayoub, who has run a station in Glendale for 33 years. "I'm kind of on the way out, looking for something else to do."

EV industry consultant Loren McDonald told the Times that the wave of closures will slowly gather speed. "It will be steady for a few years," said McDonald, "but in the last five years, as we start to approach the 2035 deadline, these owners are going to start bailing."