Gov. Murphy Adopts Clean Cars Rules To Phase In EV New Car Sales In Next Decade To Fight Climate Change & Smog

Trenton — Today, Governor Phil Murphy announced the full adoption by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) of the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) standards, which will require a ramp-up in electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid sales over the next decade.. Publication in the New Jersey Register is anticipated for December 18. New Jersey becomes the 11^th state to adopt the program, joining neighboring states of New York and Maryland.

The ACCII program, finalized by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in August 2022, will ramp up sales requirements for new passenger vehicle cars and light trucks to be electric vehicles (with a small percentage of plug-ins) over the course of the next decade, with a 100% EV sales requirement by 2035. Adoption this calendar year will trigger the requirements to kick in in Model Year 2027. The transportation sector accounts for nearly 42% of the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making it the largest emissions source in the state.

Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey, issued the following statement:

“This is a big moment for cleaner cars in New Jersey. Electric vehicles are reaching an inflection point and as we are experiencing likely the hottest year on record yet, this is the time to reduce climate pollution. New Jersey was one of the first states to adopt Clean Cars standards 20 years ago and today’s decision for New Jersey to join the bevy of other states to adopt the latest Clean Cars standards will put 40% of the nation’s auto market on an accelerated EV adoption pathway. Gov. Murphy, the entire Murphy Administration and the NJDEP deserve tremendous credit for ensuring that New Jersey adopted the program this year, ensuring that more electric vehicles will be available for New Jersey drivers.

Thanks to the adoption of this rule, starting with Model Year 2027, New Jersey will have access to more electric vehicles, which will result in roughly 90,000 more electric vehicles on the road by the end of this decade than if New Jersey delayed adoption. This is great news for consumers who will have more options for electric vehicles. And this is great news for our environment, our climate and our air quality. Cleaner cars can’t come a moment too soon as 2023 will most likely be the hottest year on record – the time is now for climate action.”

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