Rutgers-Eagleton is out with a new poll that examines New Jerseyans’ feelings about the hot-button issue of electric vehicle mandates.

NJBIZ has reported extensively about Gov. Phil Murphy’s ambitious clean energy goals. Those include the Advanced Clean Car II program. ACCII calls for a phase-out the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in New Jersey by 2035.

“Even as a dozen or so states across the country adopt the same regulations, New Jerseyans are divided on the matter of electric vehicles and the impact they will have,” Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, said in a Feb. 19 release. “It is an issue that is heavily influenced not only by the partisanship but also by a hesitancy that likely stems from a widespread lack of information about the vehicles themselves and what the policy entails – not to mention the financial implications and the notable change this would cause in people’s everyday lives.”

Key findings:

• ACCII program – 19% strongly support and 24% somewhat support. Another 15% somewhat oppose and 35% strongly oppose.
• Policy impact – 58% anticipate it will positively impact the state’s air quality and 51% believe it will benefit residents’ health. About a quarter say it will have no impact either way for air quality (22%) and residents’ health (26%).
• Fiscal well-being – 30% say the policy will positively impact New Jersey’s economy. That’s versus 44% who anticipate a negative impact and 12% who say no impact. On residents’ own fiscal well-being, 19% believe it will have a positive effect; 47% say negative and 25% say no impact.
• Partisan divide – 68% of Democrats support the mandate versus 15% support from Republicans, who oppose the policy overwhelmingly (80%).
• Purchasing EVs – 21% are not very likely and 35% not at all likely. Meanwhile, 23% are somewhat likely; 13% very likely; 3% already have one and 4% are unsure.

“Despite both federal and state-level incentives in recent years to encourage electric vehicle purchases, few already have one, and the rest of New Jerseyans are split as to whether or not they want one – even in light of the new policy,” said Jessica Roman, a research associate at ECPIP. “The desire to own one may be a partisan issue, but the ability to comply can be a real economic issue for many New Jerseyans – or is at least perceived to be so.”

A tricky issue?

The poll also examined how support or opposition to the policy affected New Jerseyans’ views on political candidates.

That produced mixed results as well. Twenty percent said they would be more likely to support a candidate if they supported the policy. Meanwhile, 45% would be less likely, and 30% say it would make no difference.

“Electric vehicles may become a tricky issue for candidates in election cycles to come – depending on which side of the aisle the candidate is on and the makeup of their electorate,” said Koning. “Those demographics who are historically more likely to turn out to vote are also the same groups most opposed to a candidate who supports the 2035 policy. And those groups who are most supportive of such a candidate are already squarely in Democrats’ camp.”

Rutgers-Eagleton polled 1,657 adults through multiple modes between Dec. 13 to Dec. 23, 2023.