NJ Hits Electric Vehicle Milestone As All-Electric Deadline Looms

NEW JERSEY - The clock is ticking on the clean energy deadline in the Garden State, and Governor Phil Murphy administration has reached what they called a "significant milepost" by surpassing 200,000 electric vehicle registrations.

Originally set for 2050, Murphy moved the goal post to 2035 during a speech at Rutgers University last year, shaving 15 years off the deadline.

"These bold targets and carefully crafted initiatives signal our unequivocal commitment to swift and concrete climate action today," Murphy said at the time. "We've turned our vision for a greener tomorrow into a responsible and actionable roadmap to guide us, and it's through that pragmatic, evidence-based approach that we will ultimately arrive at our destination."

One of three executive orders signed by Murphy to combat climate change was for the state to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2035.

Nearly 208,000 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or EVs, are now registered with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, more than double the number of EVs registered in the state just two years ago.

The other two orders called for the installation of zero-emission heating and cooling systems in 10 percent of all low-to-moderate income residential properties by 2030 and the last called for the state Board of Public Utilities to research the possibility of a natural gas utility in New Jersey.

“New Jersey is leading the charge in transitioning toward a zero-emission future. Reaching this 200,000 EV milepost clearly demonstrates growing consumer confidence in the performance of electric vehicles and our growing regional network of charging infrastructure,” Murphy said.

Greenhouse Gases

Transportation remains the largest source of greenhouse gases in the state, at 37 percent of all emissions, officials said. In 2016, there were 10,911 EVs registered in the state. This grew to 91,515 by the end of 2022. As of the most recent reporting available, the number of EVs in September of this year was 207,268, a doubling since 2022.

“We are proud of this milestone and remain committed to supporting the continued growth of electric vehicles in New Jersey,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “For the last three years, the state’s market share of EVs has consistently exceeded the national average, and we will do everything we can to maintain this momentum.”

Manufacturers are currently offering 57 EV models to consumers in New Jersey. According to data curated by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, New Jersey's market share of EV sales as of the third quarter of 2024 is 14.4 percent compared to a national average of 10.2 percent. In fact, for the last three years, New Jersey’s market share of EVs has consistently exceeded the national average.

The Cost

Detractors of the changes have pointed out that the cost to consumers could be great and that estimates from an independent group hangs a $1.4 trillion dollar price tag on the initiatives.

"They’re realizing there’s no way to fully electrify the entire state without bans, mandates, expensive conversions, and higher energy bills. We’ll keep shedding light on the harsh truths of Governor Murphy’s expensive green energy plan that he keeps trying to bury," Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco said when the executive orders were announced. "Governor Murphy has never said how much his extreme green energy plan will cost to fully implement."

New Jersey Business and Industry Association Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer Ray Cantor said that while reducing carbon emissions is something all should work towards, the execution of the plan is problematic.

"The ban of gas-powered cars in such an expedited time frame does not take costs or feasibility into account – and it is likely to result in a major increase in New Jersey residents who actually won’t be able to afford to drive,” Cantor said.

Eric DeGesero, Executive Vice President, Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey noted that Murphy's release was missing an important data set: how many hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are registered in NJ?

"For the period ending June 30, 2024, BEV, PHEV, and HEV statistics were all released. At that time, it showed there were almost as many HEVs registered (172,032) as there were BEV+PHEV (183,945) combined," DeGesero said. "It is unfortunate that the Administration decided this time to not release data regarding hybrid electric vehicle registrations.”

For charts and data on EV sales and registrations, charger locations and other information, visit the website.