Electric vehicle adoption in New York State continues to improve in June 2023, hitting the 150,000 mark in passenger electric vehicle registrations. This milestone is indeed significant for the state to achieve its 2035 target of having zero-emission vehicles account for all new passenger car sales.
In order to achieve that, Governor Kathy Hochul announced yesterday a significant investment of $29 million for the state’s electrification initiatives.
“New York’s climate and clean transportation leadership is reducing air pollution and emissions through solution-based investments in charging infrastructure and rebates. Providing cleaner air in communities that face high vehicle traffic, particularly those that are historically marginalized, is an essential step to improving the state’s quality of life while building a more sustainable future for residents, workers and visitors alike.”
Governor Kathy Hochul
About the investment
NYS will allocate $29 million to deploy Level 2 charging infrastructure as part of its Charge Ready NY 2.0 program.
The fund will also cover consumer rebate-related expenses under the Drive Clean Rebate Program. The local government’s offered incentive and rebate programs would urge more New Yorkers to join the shift towards more sustainable electric vehicles.
Specifically, $15 million of the $29 million will go to the Charge Ready NY 2.0 program. Meanwhile, the remaining $14 million will go to State’s Drive Clean Rebate program. It is worth noting that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is the one that administers these significant programs. As per the press release, the funds come from “the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the State’s 10-year, $6 billion Clean Energy Fund.”
“Electric vehicle adoption is rapidly accelerating in New York, and as more drivers make the switch, deploying charging infrastructure to match demand is essential. The additional support announced today through Charge Ready NY 2.0 and the Drive Clean Rebate will not only make convenient charging more accessible, but also help lower the cost of purchasing a new vehicle –providing complementary opportunities for more New Yorkers to join the EV revolution.”
Doreen M. Harris, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President
As mentioned, the state achieved 150,000 EV registrations in June 2023, significantly advancing its sustainability targets.
For context, NYS’ Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act aims to cut carbon emissions by 85% by 2050. Apart from that, NYS also targets 100% of all new passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, and SUVs to be emission-free by 2035.
See Also:
- New York City to replace government fleet with the procurement of over 900 EVs
- EPA to mandate up to 67% of all new cars sold in the US to be electric by 2032
- Tesla launches its Optimus Bot in North American stores, one is already in NYC
- Tesla partners with Oneida Indian Nation for its first Upstate New York sales showroom
- US to lend Li-Cycle $375 million for a recycling facility in New York
NYS’ move to invest an additional $29 million for its electrification initiatives like charging infrastructure development and consumer rebates will undoubtedly urge more people to shift to electric vehicles. These major government efforts are very crucial in promoting the push for the transition towards a more sustainable transportation system, potentially aiding the state to achieve its carbon neutrality targets.
