Senator Bucco: Gov. Murphy’s electric vehicle mandate goes “too far, too fast, and is too costly”

NEW JERSEY – Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco said Governor Murphy’s rule to ban vehicle manufacturers from selling gas-powered cars in the State by 2035 is going too far, too fast, and will be too expensive for lower- and middle-class families.

“If Governor Murphy cared about middle- and lower-class families then he wouldn’t keep pushing these regressive high-cost energy policies. If vehicle manufacturers are only allowed to sell EVs in the State, there will come a time when EVs are the only choice for our residents unless they take their business out of State,” said Bucco (R-25). “These extreme energy policies are going too far, too fast, and will cost working families too much to implement successfully. Consumers should have the option to purchase and drive EVs, hybrids, and gas-powered vehicles. The government has no right to limit the choice of consumers.”

In July, Governor Murphy stated that he was filing the Advanced Clean Cars II proposal to require vehicle manufacturers to “make zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) an increasing percentage of their new light-duty vehicle sales, ramping up to 100% ZEVs by 2035.” The proposal, directed by the Department of Environmental Protection, is expected to be published in the New Jersey Register on August 21, opening a 60-day public comment period, Bucco said.

Senator Bucco insists that this is only the beginning as Governor Murphy has made it clear that he intends on steamrolling his high-cost energy policies no matter the cost. To protect consumers, Senator Bucco sponsored Senate Bill 3684 to address concerns about the affordability of Governor Murphy’s expensive Energy Master Plan and to analyze the financial impact that it will have on middle- and low-income families. Democrats rejected the bill.

Electric vehicles are more expensive to purchase than gas-powered cars. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average cost of an electric vehicle is over $50,000, Bucco said.

Although the governor continues to say that his extreme and misguided energy rule “does not impose any obligations on consumers or car dealers,” Senate Republicans said that this is disingenuous and accused the governor of circumventing the Legislature, Bucco said.

“The Legislature must have a seat at the table. Governor Murphy should not have sole authority over the implementation of his extreme Energy Master Plan,” Bucco said. “Taxpayers and energy utilities simply cannot afford the cost and continued maintenance of the public and private charging infrastructure necessary to coincide with this imprudent mandate. This upcoming public comment period presents a unique opportunity for taxpayers and relevant stakeholders to make Governor Murphy understand that this rule is bad news for New Jersey.”