New York Joins California In Aiming To Make All Auto Sales Hybrid Or EV By 2035

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York will follow California’s lead and require that all new cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs sold in the state be either EVs or plug-in hybrids.

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To meet that target, 35 percent of new cars must be zero-emission by 2026, and 60 percent must be zero-emission by 2030. By 2035, all new school buses must be zero-emissions. Before the rules are implemented, a public hearing will be held.

Hochul directed the state’s environmental agency to develop standards similar to those adopted by California, which call for the abolition of all fossil-fuel-only car sales by 2035.

These regulations went into effect last month, with the goal of reducing passenger vehicle pollution by 25% by 2037, with 9.5 fewer internal-combustion engine (ICE) only vehicles sold by 2035.

“We had to wait for California to take a step because there’s some federal requirements that California had to go first — that’s the only time we’re letting them go first,” the governor said in a press conference yesterday.

California’s actions are being closely monitored by the state for a reason. California is allowed to set its own pollution rules under the Clean Air Act, but other states are not.

They can, however, follow California once it acts, so California must pave the way for any emissions regulations enacted by individual states.

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In addition, the governor announced a $10 million Drive Clean Rebate Program. This provides residents with a $2,000 rebate toward the purchase of more than 60 EVs and plug-in hybrids, in addition to the $7,500 federal tax credit.

To date, the state has spent $92 million on the program. As part of the EVolve charging network, the state also announced the installation of its 100th fast charger.

“With sustained state and federal investments, our actions are incentivizing New Yorkers, local governments, and businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles,” Hochul said.