The state of New York signed new legislation banning the sale of all new fossil fuel vehicles and trucks by 2035.
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What is Happening?
- The Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, signed legislation in early September that will ban the sales of new fossil fuel vehicles, including light-duty trucks and equipment, in the state by 2035.
- The bill, which was introduced by New York state senator Pete Harckham, is an amendment to the state’s environment conservation law, and is in support of the Big Apple’s goal to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by the middle of the century.
- All new vehicle sales in New York are required to be in the “zero emissions” category, meaning cars must either have an electric battery, hydrogen fuel-cells, or are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
- There’s a goal set for new medium- and heavy-trucks to be zero emissions as well by 2045.
- To help New York’s transition to electric vehicles, the state and local agencies would need to develop an infrastructure in place offering affordable power options and accessible charging stations, particularly for communities of colour.
- Greater investment and resources is needed to improve public transport and to make it more sustainable, as well as expanding biking and pedestrian lanes throughout the city to discourage reliance on private vehicles, gas-powered or otherwise.
- New York state accounted for about 6% of light-duty vehicle sales in the US in 2020, according to the National Automobile Dealership Association.
- The Governor of California Gavin Newsom – who recently beat an election recall – signed a similar bill in 2020 banning the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2035. California could reduce more than 35% of greenhouse gas emissions should that goal be met, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
- Likewise, President Biden signed an executive order in August, demanding (though not legally-binding) 50% of all new vehicles to be electric by 2030, essentially phasing out internal combustion engine cars.
- Many major automotive groups including Ford, General Motors and Hyundai have made voluntary commitments to make 40%-50% of all new car sales within Biden’s timeline.
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