New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill Wednesday that sets a goal for the state to have all new passenger car and truck sales be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) by 2035.

The bill (A.4302/S.2758) also sets goals for all medium-duty- and heavy-duty (M-HD) vehicle sales to be zero-emission technologies by 2045, where feasible, and to achieve zero-emissions from off-road vehicles and equipment by 2035, where feasible.

Hochul said in a statement that the goals are a “critical milestone” in New York’s effort to decarbonize the transportation sector, which accounts for 36% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The new law directs state regulators to propose regulations that step up the number of vehicle sales in each category to reach the goals. In addition, state agencies must begin a coordinated effort to build a ZEV market development strategy by 2023, with updates every three years.

By July 2023, state agencies also must develop a near-term plan to improve freight and transit options.

“Gov. Hochul just issued the expiration date for vehicles with tailpipes,” Peter Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates NY, said in a statement. “Because the pollution from them causes people to get sick, can lead to early deaths and is the biggest source of the pollution driving the climate crisis, the end date cannot come fast enough.”

His group is now asking climate advocates in the state to urge Hochul to “continue the momentum on climate” by signing the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure bill (A.3876/S.3929). The bill would direct the state’s utilities to develop beneficial rate structures to facilitate faster EV charging. The State Legislature passed it in April along with the ZEV bill.

California Regulations

In announcing the new ZEV goals, Hochul also said that she directed the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue its proposed rulemaking to adopt California’s Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulations.

The DEC presented its plan for the proposed rulemaking to stakeholders in February, saying that the move would build on the state’s commitment with 14 other states to lower M-HD vehicle emissions. It would set ZEV standards and reporting requirements for M-HD trucks under New York’s existing low-emission vehicle program. (See NY Considers Rulemaking for Medium to Heavy ZEVs.)

The regulations include a provision that aligns with the new state goal for all M-HD vehicles to be ZEV by 2045.

“Trucks are dirtier than passenger vehicles and are responsible for an excessive amount of air pollution — relative to their population — that causes asthma and premature deaths in New York’s communities,” Mary Barber, director of regulatory and legislative affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund, said in a statement. “The [ACT] rule is a key element to scaling up the zero-emission truck market with available and affordable vehicles to reduce harmful transportation emissions.”

If finalized, the regulations would begin with model year 2025.

The DEC will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule on Nov. 8 and is accepting public comments on it through Nov. 17.