New York law: Goodbye To gas-powered vehicles by 2035

On Wednesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation essentially prohibiting the sale of new internal combustion engine automobiles, off-road vehicles, light-duty trucks, and equipment by 2035.

The proposal, presented by New York state senator Pete Harckham, also mandates that all new heavy- and medium-duty vehicles sold in New York have “zero emissions” by 2045.

The state of New York defines zero-emission cars as battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles, or hydrogen fuel-cell-electric vehicles, according to the website of the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The new law could be a shot in the arm for automakers selling or planning electric vehicles, such as Tesla, start-ups such as Lucid Motors and Rivian, and incumbents such as Volkswagen and GM, which have shifted their focus to battery-powered electrics to meet consumer demand and comply with stricter environmental regulations. CNBC reported.

The governor’s office stated in a blog post introducing the new law on Wednesday that the changes assist New York’s goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050.

According to the National Automobile Dealership Association, New York state accounted for around 6% of light-duty vehicle sales in the United States last year, as well as $60 billion in dealership income.