Hochul highlights consumer aid for N.Y.’s push to EVs

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced the addition of $10 million to a program to help New Yorkers purchase electric vehicles, following the enactment of a 2021 law that requires all new passenger cars and trucks sold be zero emissions by 2035.

“[U]pfront costs are still high,” Hochul said at an event marking National Drive Electric Week. “I understand that. So, we’re going to continue having an assistance program to help purchasers defray the cost.”

The state’s Drive Clean Rebate program provides up to $2,000 off an electric car’s purchase or lease price. First launched in 2017, the program has provided more than $92 million in rebates to New Yorkers in all 62 counties, which amounts to more than 78,000 rebates being distributed.

The New York rebate would increase EV sales incentives to $9,500 when combined with the recently enacted $7,500 federal tax rebate included in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Hochul also announced that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) had installed its 100th high-speed charger in its EVolve NY statewide network.

Her announcement followed approval of $175 million in federal funds for charging infrastructure.

“So that builds on our already $1 billion investment in expanding charging stations,” Hochul said. “So, I expect EV sales to go up. They’ve been up 30% already over 2021.”

The switch to electric vehicles could help New York achieve its climate requirement of reducing greenhouse gases by 85% in 2050.

New York’s move toward electric vehicles follows California’s push that began in 2020 with an executive order signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to ban gas-burning cars by 2035. His administration put a rule in place in April.

Hochul said California had to go first. It is the nation’s largest car market and other states follow the Golden State’s lead on emissions.