National Drive Electric Week is Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. With the effects of climate change becoming increasingly evident here on Long Island, now is a crucial time to reduce our carbon footprint, and electric vehicles can help.
According to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, cars buses and trucks account for nearly 40% of the carbon emissions on Long Island. Imagine the positive impact if all of these internal combustion vehicles were electric instead.
The market is changing
According to NYSERDA statistics, Long Island already leads the state in electric vehicle adoption. About 23,000 electric vehicles are currently driving on our roads. While we are at the forefront, this is still only 2% of the cars and trucks registered in our area.
Earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill banning sales of new gas-powered passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks in New York State by 2035.
Additionally, President Joe Biden last month issued an executive order aimed at making half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 electric, a goal made with backing from the biggest U.S. automakers.
While these are indicators that the market is shifting, Long Islanders can still make a bigger impact now—and take advantage of early-adopter incentives.
Breaking down the barriers
To help New York State meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals, PSEG Long Island has been hard at work developing solutions to the most common barriers to electric vehicle ownership:
Smart chargers are expensive – PSEG Long Island offers a $500 rebate when you purchase eligible smart chargers, and it also offers a discounted electric rate when you enroll in the company’s charger program.
Electric cars are more expensive – Between PSEG Long Island incentives and state and federal rebates, you can shave $10,000 off the price of a new plug-in electric vehicle. And while the flashiest electric vehicles come with six-figure price tags, they are available in a range of trim lines and price tags from different manufacturers.
Electric vehicles can’t go as far. What if I run out of charge before I get home? – You don’t have to charge your electric vehicle at home. Public charging stations are becoming more common, and PSEG Long Island is providing incentives to grow this infrastructure to meet the increasing need.
What you can do
Visit https://driveelectricweek.org/ to learn about Drive Electric Week events happening in the metropolitan area
Find an electric vehicle that works for you. Lots of companies make electric vehicles now, including Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Nissan, Tesla, Toyota and Volvo.
Visit www.psegliny.com/goelectric to learn more about the ways PSEG Long Island can help you drive electric and reduce our carbon footprint.
