TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wants to ban gas-powered cars in New Jersey by 2035. He announced it to little fanfare on February 15th.
Murphy declared the state will operate 100% on clean energy by 2035. Very quickly, in his statement, he targeted gas-powered automobiles. Ironically, this announcement came as he had just ordered a new fleet of gas-guzzling Chevrolet Suburban SUVs for himself and his inner circle in government.
He called his goal a bold target but said he would get there by adopting the controversial California Clean Cars II regulations.
Those regulations call for 100% of new cars sold in New Jersey to be zero-emissions vehicles.
“Additionally, the State will offer new grant funding for heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs), initiate the process to adopt Advanced Clean Cars II in New Jersey and ensure 100 percent of new cars sold in 2035 are zero-emission vehicles, and enact rules to enhance flood protection in riverine and coastal areas,” Murphy said in a press release last month.
“These bold targets and carefully crafted initiatives signal our unequivocal commitment to swift and concrete climate action today,” said Governor Murphy. “We’ve turned our vision for a greener tomorrow into a responsible and actionable roadmap to guide us, and it’s through that pragmatic, evidence-based approach that we will ultimately arrive at our destination. Combined with our federal partnerships reinforced through the Inflation Reduction Act, these comprehensive initiatives will better protect and prepare every New Jersey community, including those on the front lines of climate change who have previously been left out and left behind.”
So what exactly is Clean Cars II? The more adventurous can read more about it on the California government website.
In a nutshell, it states that by 2035 all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in California will be zero emissions. The Advanced Clean Cars II regulations take the state’s already growing zero-emission vehicle market and robust motor vehicle emission control rules and augments them to meet more aggressive tailpipe emissions standards and ramp up to 100% zero-emission vehicles.
Here’s the part everyone needs to pay attention to.
Under California’s Clean Cars II, your gas powered vehicle will be under intense scrutiny to the point where the state can deem it unfit for the road.
“Second, the Low-emission Vehicle Regulations were amended to include increasingly stringent standards for gasoline cars and heavier passenger trucks to continue to reduce smog-forming emissions,” the Clean Cars II regulations call for.
That means, the state can, and most likely will force you to get rid of your gas-powered vehicles by deeming them as a high emissions vehicle.
Worse, Clean Cars II is based on “environmental justice and equity.” This means regulations in California and New Jersey are going to be based off “climate science”.
“The impacts of climate change and air pollution affect all Californians, but residents in frontline communities are especially vulnerable and often face the most severe impacts,” according to California’s Clean Cars II regulations. “In developing the regulatory proposals and analysis, staff met with national, state, and local advocacy organizations to learn more about these groups’ recommendations regarding staff’s proposals and how zero-emission transportation could be made more equitable. Staff’s approach to environmental justice and equity in Advanced Clean Cars II was multi-faceted and drew on stakeholder recommendations and staff’s own analysis.”
What this means is you can expect gasoline powered car bans in certain areas, particularly in cities. It’s not a new concept. Some communities in Europe already ban gas powered vehicles in certain neighborhoods and tourist areas.
Under the law, after 2035, you can still drive your gas powered car. You just won’t be able to buy a new one. Gas powered cars can be sold on the private market as used cars.
Trucks are not included. You will still be able to buy gas powered trucks.
You will only be able to drive a few hundred miles at a time before charging your vehicle.
Little is being done to offset the cost of buying a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) which to date are still considerably more expensive than gas powered vehicles. Sure, there will be some federal tax credits and rebates, but none currently make it cheaper to buy an ZEV over a gas powered vehicle.
The silvering lining in all of this is that Murphy’s order is just that. It’s an executive order. State legislators had no vote. The people of New Jersey had no representation on the matter. In three years, Murphy will no longer be governor and New Jersey can simply choose a governor who will terminate the executive order.