New Electric Car Mandates in New York For Drive to Zero Emissions

New York roads will be soon filled with more electric cars.

In an effort to reduce climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution all new cars and trucks will have to be zero emissions by 2035. And Governor Kathy Hochul is driving toward clean transportation with new incentives and new mandates.

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

Government Vehicles Go Electric

To commemorate National Drive Electric Week, Governor Hochul directed the State Department of Environmental Conservation to take major action that will require all new passenger cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs sold in New York State to be zero emissions by 2035.

"DEC will continue to work to rapidly issue this regulation and reach another milestone in the transition from fossil fuels so that more people, businesses, and governments will have the ZEV options to meet their needs and help improve the health of their communities," Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos said.

Grant Money for Zero-Emissions

DEC is helping municipalities purchase or lease zero-emission vehicles and install EV chargers through a grant program.

There are also $10 million in grants to help consumers purchase or lease an electric vehicle to put more clean vehicles on the road by 2035 too. Coupled with a federal tax rebate, savings are about $9,500.

$250 million will go towards installing more charging stations throughout the state over the next three years, helping fill in the gaps.

Off-road vehicles will see changes in the years ahead too. Under the new law, new off-road vehicles and equipment sold in New York are targeted to be zero emissions by 2035, and new medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045.