Shortly after President-elect Donald Trump announced the selection of a noted critic of electric vehicle (EV) sales mandates to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Connecticut's Democratic Governor Ned Lamont declared that his state would not pursue an EV sales requirement.
Connecticut had been working on implementing an EV mandate similar to New Jersey's rules, which aim to phase out new gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035. However, Gov. Lamont has now informed multiple news outlets that an EV sales mandate is no longer being considered by his administration.
This announcement from Connecticut followed Trump's decision to appoint former Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY) as head of the US EPA. Zeldin has been a vocal critic of EV sales mandates and campaigned on this issue during his gubernatorial run against Kathy Hochul in New York in 2022.
Acknowledging Elon Musk's close ties with the Trump administration, Lamont expressed confidence that EVs will remain part of U.S. energy policy but indicated that the EPA’s new focus would be on incentives rather than mandates.
Lamont’s decision was welcomed by Republican lawmakers in Connecticut who argue that electric vehicles are unaffordable for most residents and difficult to implement due to necessary upgrades to the state's power grid. "This is a victory for Connecticut taxpayers," stated the Connecticut Senate GOP Caucus on November 13.
New Jersey adopted Advanced Clean Cars II standards last year, beginning a gradual phase-in of EV sales requirements with the 2027 model year. If unchanged, gasoline-powered cars with internal combustion engines would be banned in New Jersey starting in 2035.
Ray Cantor, NJBIA Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer, commented: “What Connecticut has decided may not drive New Jersey’s decision... But because the incoming Trump administration may eliminate California’s EV mandate... it would mean that New Jersey would reverse course by default."
Cantor emphasized support for encouraging electric vehicles without mandating purchases, citing infrastructure inadequacies as a concern.
New Jersey also faces an earlier implementation date for its Advanced Clean Truck rule, requiring medium and heavy-duty truck sales percentages starting January 2025. NJBIA has urged legislative action to delay this until at least 2027, aligning with states like Massachusetts and Oregon.
Cantor highlighted potential economic impacts if adjustments aren't made: “If this bill does not become law... it will needlessly cost hundreds of millions... decimate the logistics industry... and those costs will be passed on to consumers.”
