what to know
- This initiative lays the foundation for creating a cleaner and more accessible transportation system for New York City.
- “When it comes to driving toward inclusive and sustainable transportation alternatives, New York City isn’t just ready for the ride; in fact, we are leading the way,” Mayor Adams said.
- A public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled for September 20, 2023.
NEW YORK — On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner David Do announced proposed new rules for “green travel,” which require transitioning New York City’s rideshare fleet to zero-emission vehicles or wheelchair-accessible vehicles by 2030.
This initiative lays the foundation for creating a cleaner and more accessible transportation system for New York City. The proposed rules will also make New York City the first large city in the world to have a fully zero-emissions or wheelchair-accessible rideshare fleet.
“When it comes to driving toward inclusive and sustainable transportation alternatives, New York City isn’t just ready for the ride; in fact, we are leading the way,” Mayor Adams said. “By advocating for the integration of zero-emission vehicles and wheelchair-accessible transportation, we are reducing dirty emissions and ensuring equitable transportation opportunities for all New Yorkers. “Green Rides” marks significant progress toward establishing an environmentally conscious for-hire transportation system that spans all five boroughs. This transformative change will serve as a tipping point, propelling New York City toward a greener, cleaner and healthier future.”
The newly proposed rules provide a comprehensive roadmap for achieving the bold goals of “Green Rides” over the next six years, with annual benchmarks that are practical, implementable, and designed to ensure a smooth and efficient transition. Starting in 2024, the city will require that 5 percent of all high-volume rental trips, including those from Uber and Lyft, be sent to zero-emission vehicles or wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and that benchmark it will increase to 15 percent in 2025 and 25 percent in 2026. As the market evolves and EV prices become more affordable, the requirements will increase annually by 20 percentage points through the end of the decade, reaching 100 percent in 2030.
“Electric vehicle adoption is a crucial piece of reducing New York City’s emissions. We are working closely with the private sector to equitably increase access to public charge and inspire greater adoption and sustainable change across industries,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner, Ydanis Rodriguez. “We applaud Mayor Adams and Commissioner Do for their work to eliminate emissions from rideshare fleet vehicles.”
This transition will play an important role in advancing PlaNYC, New York City’s long-term strategic climate plan that highlights the efforts the city is making to protect New Yorkers from climate threats, improve quality of life, and build a green economy. In the plan, the Adams administration lays out actions the city is taking to achieve its goal of cutting transportation emissions in half by 2030. According to a TLC study, agency-licensed vehicles currently contribute about 4 percent of city vehicle emissions.
Along with “Green Rides,” the city is working as part of PlaNYC to ensure that all New Yorkers live within 2.5 miles of an electric vehicle charging station by 2035 and electrify the city’s school buses and fleet, while seeks legislative changes to require private parking lots and many make electric vehicle charging available. Both Uber and Lyft, which together comprise New York City’s high-volume rental fleet of approximately 78,000 vehicles, have committed to transitioning to a greener fleet by 2030.
Existing federal and state incentives are expected to encourage electric vehicle purchases and drive the market toward price parity between zero-emission vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles by 2027. Additionally, state regulations dictate that all New passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in the state will be zero emissions by 2035. These financial and legal forces, along with proven demand for TLC vehicle licenses, will help rideshare drivers shift toward cleaner transportation options. and sustainable.
A public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled for September 20, 2023.
“The climate disasters we have seen this summer are an urgent call to action for all of us to do more to protect our environment. Electrifying the vehicles that cross New York is essential to the sustainable city we need to build,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Thank you to the TLC for setting a new standard with the Green Rides initiative.”
