One of the biggest contributors to one’s carbon footprint is transportation—specifically, gas-powered vehicles. Your mileage will vary, so to speak, but according to the EPA, a typical passenger car emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, producing about 404 grams of CO2  per mile. In New York State alone—according to the state’s 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report—vehicle fuel combustion accounts for 19% of the state’s greenhouse gas
emissions.

The good news is that there are increasingly practical alternatives to gasoline-powered vehicles
that not only reduce carbon emissions, but are actually less expensive to operate in general. As
of this writing in March 2024, the national average price for gas is $3.39, and while that’s
certainly well below the $4.48 it hit two years ago, gas remains a not inconsequential cost for
many individuals and families. An alternative to a gasoline-powered car is an electric vehicle
(EV), which run on batteries rather than gas. EVs can be 50–70% less expensive to drive per mile
than gas-powered vehicles and generate far fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

The argument has been made that, since electricity itself is produced using fossil fuels, won’t an
increase in EVs on the road increase the demand for electricity and thus the greenhouse gas
emissions produced by power plants? Not really, no: at least in New York State, electricity is
generated in part using “clean” sources, so the greenhouse gas emission problem isn’t simply
being shifted elsewhere. And as the grid gradually comes to include more renewable energy
options, this issue will become less of a problem in the future.

Another concern vis-à-vis EVs is a practical one: are there enough charging stations to
accommodate more EVs on the road? There is good news on this front as well. Charge NY is an
initiative born of a collaboration among the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA), the New York Power Authority, and New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation that uses a combination of education, research, consumer
outreach, and financial support for the installation of charging stations across New York
to—quite simply—get more EVs on the road. Part of their mission is to accommodate one
million plug-in electric vehicles by 2025.

At the same time, the New York Power Authority is dedicating $250 million to its EVolve NY
program, the goal of which is “making electric vehicles easy to own in New York State and
decarbonizing the state’s transportation sector.” Amongst their initiatives is the installation of
“fast charging” stations, and they plan to have at least 800 installed by the end of 2025. As they
say, “Our fast chargers will be located along major state highway corridors, usually within five
minutes of the roadway exit, and will be compatible for all types of current EV models.” (In a
nutshell, “fast charging” uses DC power rather than AC and can charge most passenger EVs up
to 80% in as fast as 15 minutes, but, again, your mileage will vary.)

NYSERDA’s Drive Clean Rebate provides up to $2,000 in financial incentives to promote the
purchase or lease of EVs. Income qualifying households can also take advantage of a federal
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit applied at the point of sale of up to $7,500 for a new EV
or up to $4,000 for a used EV purchased from a licensed dealer. Federal IRA credits and state
Drive Clean Rebates may be combined for a total discount of $9500 on the purchase of certain

EV models. In addition, car dealers may pass along federal credits to reduce the cost of leasing
an EV. Car dealerships can help you navigate these incentives.

And what’s more, the Thruway Authority’s Green Discount Plan offers qualified EV owners a
special EZ Pass “green tag” that takes 10% off Thruway tolls.

Confused About EV Options?
NYSERDA has a variety of calculators and comparison tools available for you to choose an EV
based on your own driving habits and lifestyle.

While there are many financial incentives to switching to electric vehicles, we shouldn’t lose
sight of the fact that EVs dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping us reduce our
overall carbon footprint. It is essentially a win-win scenario, for our budgets and for the planet.

Interested in a hands-on experience? Watch for an upcoming EV Car Show co-hosted by
Sustainable Saratoga in 2025.

Quick links:
CURE100
EPA on vehicle GHG emissions
NYS Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report
Charge NY
EvolveNY
NYSERDA Drive Clean Rebate
IRS Clean Vehicle Tax Credits
IRS Used Clean Vehicle Credit
NYSERDA Inflation Reduction Act & Drive Clean Rebate Vehicles
Consumer Reports: Everything You Need to Know About Leasing an EV or PHEV With a Tax
Credit
NYS Thruway Green Discount Plan
NYSERDA Electric Vehicle Calculator

Written by Richard Romano, Sustainable Saratoga Secretary