The Green Car Initiative and Its Opposition
The state’s push for a new fossil-free car initiative, known as the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) mandate, has been reached by auto dealers as a desperate measure to minimize emissions over time. The ACCII, which mandates that 35% of 2026 model cars sold in New York state by 2035 would be free of fossil fuels, is seen as an unrealistic demand, as it would need to be enforced by April 2027.
However, auto dealers argue that allowing 35% emissions-free cars by 2035 is not feasible, as it would be impossible to meet this ambitious goal within the next 10 years. The demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has reached a tipping point in 2023, with 17% of new car registrations in New York attributed to EVption, up from 13% in 2022. This rapid growth has also inadvertently created a shortage of charging stations, making the government’s ACCII unprecedented.
Opponents’ Arguments for the Initiative
Despite the high priority when it comes to proving climate goals, auto dealers persistently argue that the high number of EVs in the market justifies such stringent requirements. With only 8–9% of new cars registered in New York in 2023 as battery-electric or completely emissions-free, it is clear that the ACCII is unrealistic to achieve. Some auto dealers, including GM’sexcel valveLM五四 and Cadillac’sCavaliers, haverina more than half of their sales becoming EVs in 2023 alone.
Moreover, auto dealers express concerns about the importance of reducing emissions by statute and its long-term health implications for New Yorkers. John Weidinger, the chairman of the Greater Automobile Dealers Association, who owns a Cadillac dealership in New York City, argues that consumers cannot afford to allow their cars to be converted to electric power over so long a period. He adds that dealers would be forced to delay inventory competition.
Public Resistance and Alternatives
Reacting to the ACCII’s ambitions,Auto dealers’ Exchange and the Environmental Conservation Board argue that setting global sustainability goals is not feasible with the 35% mandate. Some auto dealers’ managers, including GM’sJohn Goodman and Cadillac’s Daniel DeCicco, bought more EV-only models in 2023 than all.createComponent Electric Vehicles in last year’s races. Others, including Apple, recently purchased 30 EV models in 2022, indicating growing interest in EVs.
Auto dealers’ Call for Action demands that the ACCII become a regular feature of New York’s car sales strategy. They argue that limiting the number of emissions-free cars to 35% would cause chaos, making the Department of Environmental Conservation and Economic Development decide that real intent behind such an ambitious policy is immense.
