Congressman Nick Langworthy spoke at the Ed Shults Chevrolet Dealership in Jamestown regarding the state mandate on electric vehicle sales. Photo via screenshot

U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy is anything but shy when it comes to taking aim at the state he serves. Last week, he was at it again regarding the state’s electric vehicle mandates.

Langworthy visited the Ed Shults Chevrolet Dealership in Jamestown to outline the potential impacts of the state’s electric vehicle sale mandate. He also visited dealerships in Depew and Olean to deliver his message.

Langworthy said he believes many people are unaware of what he called “a looming economic disaster that is waiting to happen here in New York.”

Per New York state, all new sales of passenger cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs are required to be zero-emission by 2035. The mandate would require an increasing percentage of new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission vehicles starting with 35% of sales in model year 2026, 68% of sales by 2030, and 100% of sales by 2035.

“The aggressive timeline set forth by New York’s electric vehicle sales mandate … does not comport with reality or consumer demand,” Langworthy said.

Langworthy recently led a bipartisan delegation letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul outlining the potential consequences to the state’s economy because of the mandate and urged her to repeal it.

“I strongly encourage Governor Hochul to reconsider the timeline of her implementation, if not fully repealing this mandate,” Langworthy said.

He later added, “You can delay it, you can repeal it, or you can just watch businesses get evaporated.”

Langworthy spoke to how car dealerships across the state will be “drastically” impacted if the mandate remains in place. He called local dealerships “pillars of the community,” from providing jobs to supporting local causes. He believed that impacting local dealerships can indirectly impact communities as a whole.

The mandate could lead to excessive inventory for dealerships across the state if consumers do not shift to purchasing electric vehicles. Indirectly, that could lead to layoffs or price increases to make up for the added cost to dealerships. Especially relevant to Western New York, consumers could also decide to purchase vehicles across state lines, resulting in a loss of revenue to the state economy.

The concerns shared by dealerships also apply to school districts across the state. Schools must be fully transitioned to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. Prior to that, purchasing diesel buses will be restricted in 2027.

Regarding demand, Langworthy claims that the statewide electric vehicle sales last year were dramatically below the 35% mark that the state is requiring for 2026 models. Even with federal subsidies to incentivize sales of electric vehicles, Langworthy says the demand just is not there in the state. Representatives from Shults claimed only 1.4% of sales last year were electric vehicles.

“Clearly these targets are really misaligned with the appetite that New York state consumers have for electric vehicles,” said Langworthy.

Langworthy said the concerns he has heard consumers voice to dealerships across the state include the lack of infrastructure to support electric vehicles and the extended commutes that many drivers statewide face. Harsh winter weather brings concerns, as well, with the risk of power outages or charging issues making driving either impossible or at a heightened risk.

While Langworthy is strongly opposed to the mandate in place, he does not fully oppose electric vehicles in general. In fact, he leases a Jeep 4XE – a hybrid vehicle that is both electric and gasoline powered. Langworthy believes the mandate is too aggressive not only in its timeline, but also in pushing a full transition to electric vehicles rather than hybrids.

“I find the hybrid solution a good one,” Langworthy said. “… The full (electric vehicle) is something that the western New York consumer is having a real hard time getting their head around because they are concerned that it won’t fit the needs of them and their family.”

The mandate, according to Langworthy, is part of a liberal agenda that he believes has gone too far left. He said, “The push to force Americans into (electric vehicles) is nonsensical and it’s dangerous. It’s a classic example of liberal elites thinking everyone should be able to just go get a $50,000-60,000 electric vehicle while ignoring the realities of what is our rural way of life here in the southern tier.”

Langworthy urged Hochul to reconsider the mandate. He said, “Allow us for a more gradual transition that’s aligned with the market, and with actual technology and infrastructure. The fact that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree with me here should tell the Governor all that she needs to know.”