New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Wednesday signed a bill into law that will require all passenger vehicles sold in the state to be emission-free by 2035.
The law will make New York the second state after California to phase out greenhouse gas emissions in cars and light trucks. It also aims to eliminate emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045, and requires the creation of a detailed plan for zero-emissions vehicle development by 2023.
Separately, Hochul signed an order instructing the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to develop a regulation cutting the pollution emitted by trucks. While Hochul’s office did not release details of the proposed regulation, it projected it would “accelerate” sales of zero-emission trucks.
The Biden administration has announced a goal of cutting U.S. emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2050. While much of that goal would require congressional cooperation, Hochul’s signature means two of the nation’s most populous states are working toward the same end.
The new rule, expected Thursday, would mean more than half of trucks sold in the state must be zero-emissions by 2035, and all of them by 2045.
Excerpt from this New York Times story:
Rebuffing strong opposition from industry, California is expected to adopt a landmark rule on Thursday that requires more than half of all trucks sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2035, a move that is set to improve local air quality, rein in greenhouse gas emissions and sharply curtail the state’s dependence on oil.
The rule, the first in the United States, represents a victory for communities that have long suffered from truck emissions — particularly pollution from the diesel trucks that feed the sprawling hubs that serve the state’s booming e-commerce industry. On one freeway in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, near the largest concentration of Amazon warehouses in the country, a community group recently counted almost 1,200 delivery trucks go by in one hour.
Oil companies, together with farming and other industries, opposed the measure, calling it unrealistic, expensive and an example of regulatory overreach. Truck and engine manufacturers also opposed the rule, and began a last-ditch effort in March to delay it, saying companies were already suffering from the effects of the Covid-19 crisis.
But California, which two years ago set an ambitious target of reducing emissions of planet-warming gases by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, is holding firm. The state’s clean air regulator was widely expected to vote in favor of the rule at a hearing on Thursday.
The new rule, which would set sales requirements for zero-emissions versions of everything from big rigs to box trucks and delivery vans starting in 2024, has clear benefits. Under the rule, the percentage of zero-emissions trucks that must be sold gradually increases each year, with a goal that 100 percent of trucks be zero-emissions vehicles by 2045.
By removing diesel trucks from the roads, California estimates it will eliminate 60,000 tons of hazardous nitrogen oxides, preventing more than 900 premature deaths and delivering at least $9 billion in public health benefits. California also estimates that the rule will lower the state’s carbon dioxide emissions by 17 million metric tons, roughly the same amount as pollution from burning almost 100,000 rail cars’ worth of coal, and save truck operators $6 billion in fuel costs.
Colorado is moving ahead with a plan to get nearly 1 million electric vehicles (EV) on its roads by 2030 and, for the first time, has adopted a long-term goal of transitioning to 100 percent electric and zero-emission vehicles.
Excerpt from this story from DeSmog Blog:
Colorado is moving ahead with a plan to get nearly 1 million electric vehicles (EV) on its roads by 2030 and, for the first time, has adopted a long-term goal of transitioning to 100 percent electric and zero-emission vehicles.
The state’s Energy Office recently released the Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan 2020, an update to the 2018 EV plan that established a target of 940,000 EVs by 2030. The new plan retains that target and lays out a vision for a “large-scale transition of Colorado’s transportation system to zero emission vehicles.” That vision includes electrifying all light-duty vehicles and making all medium and heavy-duty vehicles zero-emission (including electric, hydrogen, and other zero emissions technologies).
Transportation pollution is a big concern in Colorado. “As a stark reminder of just how big a polluter cars and trucks can be, Colorado meteorology supervisor Scott Landes said … that nitrogen dioxide levels in Denver had decreased nearly 28 percent during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order,” CPR News reported. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nitrogen dioxide exposure can increase the risk of developing asthma and “potentially increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.”
As noted in the 2020 EV Plan, transportation is projected to be the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state of Colorado by this year. Transitioning to to nearly a million EVs by 2030 could result in an annual reduction of 3 million tons of climate pollution in the state. De-carbonizing the transportation sector is a key strategy for meeting Colorado’s targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent (below 2005 levels) by 2030 and 90 percent by 2050, targets that are outlined in a state climate action law passed last year.
Tata JLR unveils major electric car investment plans for UK
Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on Friday unveiled major investment plans for the production of its new electric car models in the United Kingdom
Britain's largest automotive manufacturer afore mentioned its new range of electrified vehicles will be built at its Castle Bromwich plant within the West Midlands region of England, safeguarding thousands of jobs.
"We are co-locating our electrical vehicle manufacture, Electronic Drive Units and battery assembly to create a powerhouse of electrification with in the Midlands," said Prof Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover.
The future of quality is electrical and, as a visionary British company, we tend to are committed to making our next generation of zero-emission vehicles within the UK," he said.
Zero-Emission Toyota Mirai Costs As Little As $45,835
Orders open in CA for the zero-emission Toyota Mirai. Incentives mean you could get one for around $45k. #toyota #mirai #green
The Toyota Mirai emits only water vapor and has a range of 312 miles with a 5-minute refueling time
Toyota have opened orders in California for their new Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, which has a starting price of $57,500 plus an $835 destination fee.
Taking into account state incentives for zero-emission vehicles and Toyota incentives for early adopters, eligible buyers could today get a…
