Lester Chang, assemblyman for New York Assembly District 49, expressed opposition to current electric vehicle (EV) mandates, citing their financial impact on working-class families and small businesses.
“I do not support the current electric vehicle (EV) mandates,” said Chang. “These mandates impose an undue financial burden on New York’s working-class families and small businesses. A balanced approach that encourages innovation and consumer choice…is essential. I recognize the importance of transitioning toward cleaner energy and reducing emissions.”
According to the Atlas EV Hub, twelve U.S. states, including New York, have adopted California’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation. This policy requires all new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035. While intended as a climate initiative, critics argue that the transition timeline fails to consider regional differences in infrastructure readiness, vehicle affordability, and consumer preferences. Various industry stakeholders have objected to these mandates, believing they impose uniform standards without addressing local economic and logistical constraints.
As reported by CBT News, several auto dealers in New York have raised concerns about the ACC II requirements. They cite low electric vehicle demand and limited public charging infrastructure as significant barriers to compliance. Andy Guelcher, General Manager of Mohawk Chevrolet in Schenectady, noted that EVs currently represent less than 5% of the dealership’s sales and maintaining unsold EV inventory strains operational resources. Dealers warn that the mandate is detached from market realities and that forcing widespread EV adoption could lead to financial losses and supply imbalances.
The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR) has documented that mandates like ACC II risk narrowing consumer choice and disproportionately affecting working- and middle-class households. The organization argues that in areas lacking reliable home or public charging access, EV adoption remains impractical and cost-prohibitive for many buyers. NJ CAR maintains that while supporting EV growth is essential, imposing rigid targets without ensuring affordability and infrastructure support could disrupt the automotive market long-term.
Chang was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 8, 2022, representing the 49th Assembly District in Kings County. A lifelong New Yorker and son of Chinese immigrants, he graduated from the city’s public schools and holds a master’s degree in International Transportation from SUNY Maritime College. A Navy Reserve veteran with over 20 years of experience in global logistics, he also supported COVID-19 relief efforts by helping convert the Jacob Javits Center into a field hospital.
