California is yet again setting the tone and pace for automotive environmental regulations. Earlier this year, the state announced that it would ban the sale of gas vehicles by 2035, and now, New York is following its lead with a tiered gas vehicle ban. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the decision yesterday, noting that the state would take a tiered approach to implement the ban.
The state’s plan includes requirements for 35 percent of sales to be electric by 2026, 68 percent by 2030, and 100 percent by 2035. We’re talking zero-emissions electric vehicles here, too, not hybrids or plug-in hybrids. The regulations have some built-in flexibility for automakers, but Governor Hochul didn’t elaborate on what they might be. She also mentioned tightening standards for new vehicles starting in 2026, but we’ll have to wait to hear specifics.
At the press conference announcing the move, Hochul said that her state is “a national climate leader and an economic powerhouse, and we’re using our strength to help spur innovation and implementation of zero-emissions vehicles on a grand scale.” She continued to say that “with sustained state and federal investments, our actions are incentivizing New Yorkers, local governments, and businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles.”
Notice that a key phrase in her statement is that the transition relies heavily on financial support from the federal government and a commitment from state lawmakers. Depending on the political winds in the U.S. over the next few years, these plans could encounter challenges. However, California is unlikely to reverse its course, so the ball is already in motion.
