New York Follows In California Footsteps And Becomes The Second State To Mandate Zero-Emission Vehicles By 2035

New York becomes the second state to mandate zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

On Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that all vehicles in the state must have zero emissions by 2035. The news comes just one month after California announced a ban on gasoline-powered cars 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,” Hochul says.

As part of the Clear Air Act of 1970, Congress allowed California to set its own vehicle emission standards. This was done after the state had to apply for a waiver with the Environmental Protection Agency.

California was singled out for the new standard because of its high smog levels.

During a press conference, Hochul spoke about California’s new change saying, “Once they made that decision. We are able to step up immediately and say now there’s nothing holding us back.”

New York will take a gradual approach to the new change by requiring 35 percent of new passenger cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs to be zero-emission by 2026 and 68 percent by 2030.

In addition, all new school buses will be expected to meet the goal by 2027, with the remaining buses following suit by 2035.

NEW: All new vehicles sold in New York must be zero emissions by 2035.

By revving up our clean transportation transition and making major investments to make EVs more accessible, we’re supercharging our fight against climate change. #NationalDriveElectricWeek pic.twitter.com/AWvSjK8b7D

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 29, 2022