New York Bans Sale Of Gas-Powered Cars

The post New York Bans Sale Of Gas-Powered Cars appeared first on Tell Me Best. The plan is to ban the sale of all gas-powered cars in New York by 2035. The announcement, made by Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this week, says the state wants 35% of new cars to be zero-emission by 2026 and 60% by 2030. All new school buses must also be zero emissions by 2035. A public hearing will be held before the rules are implemented.

The report explains that the “decision comes after California voted to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars starting in 2035. The move set a precedent for other states. Somehow, The Clean Air Act permits California to set its own pollution rules. This means that other areas aren’t allowed to create pollution guidelines, but they can vote to follow California once it acts.

The article elaborates: “As a result, the coastal region essentially paves the way for any emissions rules implemented by individual states. Banning gas-powered cars is a critical step for New York as it strives to reduce greenhouse gases by 85% in the next three decades. During the announcement, the governor also unveiled a $10 million Drive Clean Rebate Program that gives residents a $2,000 rebate toward the purchase of over 60 EVs and plug-in hybrids, Engadget reports.”

Follow the money! The article continues: “That’s in addition to the $7,500 federal tax rebate. To date, the state has spent $92 million on the program.   “New York is a national climate leader and an economic powerhouse,” Hochul said in the statement announcing the news. She added that the state is using its strength to help spur innovation and implementation of zero-emission vehicles on a grand scale.”

New pollution standards will be implemented for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles with gas combustion engines for the model year 2026 through 2034. The state also announced the installation of its 100th fast charger as part of the EVolve charging network.

Hochul explained that any battery-powered electric vehicle can charge at these stations in as little as 20 minutes. With the expansion of widely available charging infrastructure, the Governor believes that sales of EVs will increase, noting that sales have already risen by 30% in 2021. This fact caused Hochul to deduce that “residents will probably be happy with the ban on gas-powered cars.”

More money! “Moreover, the state of New York will receive a $175 million chunk of the bipartisan infrastructure law’s $5 billion allocation for electric vehicle charging networks. That’s going to help over 14 interstates in New York, especially ones used by the people in the community.” The article added:  “With sustained state and federal investments, our actions are incentivizing New Yorkers, local governments, and businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles,” Hochul said of the gas-powered car phase-out via The Hill.

Limits to altering reality may exist. See the article, ‘Difficult to really achieve’: Toyota president offers realty check on CA gas-powered vehicle ban. Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda said Newsom’s goal will be “rather difficult” to achieve. That statement applies to New York’s dictate.

“Realistically speaking, it seems rather difficult to really achieve them,” he said, according to Fox Business. “But just like the fully autonomous cars that we were all supposed to be driving by now, BEVs are just going to take longer to become mainstream than the media would like us to believe.” If Toyoda’s assessment is correct, it will affect more than just California, where the manufacturer is the top-selling auto brand.

The Fox Business report informed that “Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have tied themselves to the regulations set by the California Air Resources Board, or CARB.” American Wire reported, one of those states, Virginia, is “frantically trying” to get out of the deal.

The article elaborates: “In 2021, then-Governor Ralph Norton shackled Virginia to the whims of Gavin Newsom, leaving his successor, Governor Glenn Youngkin, scrambling to fix the liberal mess he inherited.”

Youngkin said in a statement posted on Twitter: “In an effort to turn Virginia into California, liberal politicians who previously ran our government sold Virginia out by subjecting Virginia drivers to California vehicle laws.” Youngkin added: “Now, under that pact, Virginians will be forced to adopt the California law that prohibits the sale of gas and diesel-fueled vehicles.” Youngkin then asserted: “I am already at work to prevent this ridiculous edict from being forced on Virginians. California’s out-of-touch laws have no place in our Commonwealth.”