New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at an event to announce her election of New York State Democratic Sen. Brian Benjamin as lieutenant governor in the Harlem section of Manhattan in New York City on 26 August 2021.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed legislation effectively banning the sale of new internal combustion vehicles, SUVs, light trucks and equipment by 2035.
The legislation, introduced by New York State Sen. Pete Harckham, also requires new heavy and medium-duty trucks in New York to be in the “zero emissions” category by 2045.
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation website, the state defines zero-emission vehicles as: battery-powered electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or electric vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells.
The new law could be a shot in the arm for automakers selling or planning electric vehicles, including Tesla, emerging companies like Lucid Motors and Rivian, and headlines like Volkswagen and GM that have focused their attention on battery-powered electricity. to meet consumer demand. and comply with the strictest environmental regulations.
In a blog post announcing the new law on Wednesday, the governor’s office said the moves support New York’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050.
According to data from the National Association of Car Dealers, New York State accounted for approximately 6% of light vehicle sales in the United States last year and $ 60 billion in dealer revenue.
New York is following California’s previous efforts to turn drivers into zero-emission vehicles. As previously reported by CNBC, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in September 2020 that would phase out all sales of new internal combustion engine vehicles in the state by 2035.