“Deadlines Don’t Match the Reality”

New York’s latest green car push is hitting a major roadblock as auto dealers warn that the state’s aggressive timeline for electric vehicle adoption is out of touch with reality.

As The New York post reported, the Hochul administration’s Advance Clean Cars II (ACC II) mandate, which requires 35% of all 2026 model cars sold in the state to be emission-free, has sparked outrage among those who actually sell cars for a living.

Dealers argue that the infrastructure simply isn’t in place to meet these politically driven demands. Jack Weidinger, chairman of the Greater Automobile Dealers Association of NY and a Cadillac dealer in Great Neck, didn’t mince words: “The deadlines don’t match the reality.”

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The ACC II initiative is part of an even broader scheme to force New Yorkers into fully electric vehicles by 2035. But industry experts are sounding the alarm, saying the rapid transition from gas-powered cars to electric models is pure fantasy.

“Dealers want to extend the deadline so we don’t destroy the market,” Weidinger warned. And he’s not alone. Andy Guelcher, a Chevrolet dealer in Ballston Spa, pointed out that there aren’t nearly enough charging stations to support the wave of electric vehicles the state expects to flood the market.

“The infrastructure is not ready for these ambitious deadlines,” Guelcher said, adding that DMV records show electric cars only make up about 8% to 9% of new car registrations. “There’s no way we hit 35% next year.”

The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) insists that electric vehicles account for slightly over 10% of car sales, but even that number is a far cry from the 35% target the state is demanding.

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Guelcher put it bluntly: “While setting environmental sustainability goals is laudable, hitting 35% is next to impossible—and consumers will be left holding the bag.”

He also warned that the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles could vanish under a Republican administration, making these already pricey cars even less affordable. Meanwhile, gas-powered car prices could skyrocket as dealers are forced to limit inventory of traditional vehicles.

“With car dealers forced to order more zero-emission vehicles, there will be fewer gas-powered vehicles on the lot, driving up prices for the remaining gas-powered vehicles,” Guelcher said.

“When inventory of gas-powered vehicles runs out, local consumers will be forced to choose between purchasing a vehicle locally they do not want or going out of state to purchase a car. Most will choose the latter.”

Despite mounting criticism, the DEC is doubling down.

A statement from the agency defended the mandate, claiming, “New York State is committed to working with all parties to help ensure the state’s smooth transition to electric vehicles for the health, environmental, and economic benefits it will provide New Yorkers.”

The DEC also insisted that the ACC II rule “does not apply to consumers or dealers, only to manufacturers,” adding that compliance mechanisms make the real requirement closer to 10% EV sales, not 35%.

But auto dealers aren’t buying it. In a letter to Guelcher, interim DEC Commissioner Sean Mahar dismissed calls to repeal the mandate, saying it would “cause chaos” and violate New York’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

Mahar also claimed that electric vehicle prices are now “at or near parity” with gas-powered cars—though anyone who has looked at car prices lately might beg to differ.

The state points to 15,000 charging stations as evidence that EV infrastructure is ready, but ignores the reality that most New Yorkers don’t have the luxury of charging a car at home.

This battle over the green car mandate comes amid growing outrage over skyrocketing utility bills. Con Edison is pushing for an 11.4% increase in electric bills and a staggering 13.3% hike in gas bills, citing the need to build “clean energy infrastructure” to comply with New York’s climate laws.

If approved, some inflation-weary New Yorkers could see their annual energy costs increase by $1,848 compared to five years ago.

Governor Kathy Hochul has publicly opposed Con Ed’s rate hikes, but that hasn’t stopped her from ramming through other costly green initiatives.

From banning gas stoves and furnaces to blocking natural gas extraction, the state’s war on traditional energy continues, no matter the cost to consumers.

Auto dealers are pleading for common sense before New York’s car market collapses under the weight of unrealistic mandates. But with bureaucrats firmly in the driver’s seat, the road ahead looks anything but smooth.

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