New York Legislature Passes Law Requiring Electric Cars by 2035
When it comes to automobiles, it's clear that electric cars are the future and according to a bill that was just passed by the New York State Senate and Assembly, that future will be here sooner than you may think.
According to a report by WKBW-TV, both houses of the New York State legislature have passed a bill that will require every new passenger car and truck that is sold in New York to be a zero-emission by the year 2035.
New York State Senate Bill S2758 would amend the current New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to require these changes for all new vehicles sold in New York State. In addition to passenger cars and trucks, off-road vehicles and equipment would also have to be zero-emission by 2035. The timeline for zero-emission medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks would not take effect until 2045.
The primary purpose of this change would be to reduce the amount of carbon and pollution that is created by automobiles and trucks.
Requiring vehicles to be entirely free of carbon and other toxic emissions is the best way to ramp up our fight against climate change... We need to take decisive action right now, and I am heartened that a number of other states have realized this as well. Together, we can make a difference, but it is going to take an all-out initiative to save our planet, and this is how New York and other states can impact the environment.
-Pete Harckham, New York State Senator, 40th Senate District
If this bill becomes law, it will make New York the second state in America to require zero-emission vehicles. California made a similar move in September 2020 when it enacted these same sorts of requirements on new vehicle sales that happen in 2035 and beyond.
The bill should be delivered to Governor Andrew Cuomo in a few business days where he is expected to sign it into law.