New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a new $250 million electric vehicle expansion initiative, EVolve NY, with the New York Power Authority. In addition to state funding, the program will also seek to create private sector partnerships through 2025 to aggressively accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles throughout New York State.
NYPA will be launching several new innovative initiatives to co-invest with private sector partners, collaborate with partners on identifying new business and ownership models, and increase customer awareness about electric vehicles and charging. This major investment plan aims to expand fast charging infrastructure and make EVs more user-friendly for all New Yorkers.
“New York has an incredible opportunity to move the needle on greenhouse gas reduction and get more electronic vehicles on the road by building more charging stations to ensure New Yorkers can drive them from one end of the state to the other,” Governor Cuomo said. “With the NYPA EVolve NY initiative, we are making a significant move to make driving an electric car a viable choice and an affordable option that can make significant strides in cleaning the air for all New Yorkers.”
The initial phase of funding, approved on May 22 by NYPA trustees, directs $40 million to be allocated into three primary new programs through the end of 2019, including:
– Interstate Fast Chargers – Collaborate with the private sector, and other partners, to identify and install up to 200 direct current (DC) fast chargers along key interstate corridors – with a target interval of every 30 miles – and in select urban areas. DC fast chargers have the potential to charge the latest EV models in as little as 10 minutes for 200 miles of range. NYPA will collaborate with partners to determine optimal locations focusing on accessibility, convenience, affordability, and reliability of charging.
– Airport Fast Chargers – Leverage public and private partnerships to install DC fast chargers at or near John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports. With more than 20 million passenger car trips around the airports annually, an EV charging hub has the potential to serve EV drivers within a 200 mile-radius of New York City. Program features may include promoting charger use by multiple users including rideshare companies, public vehicles, rental agencies, airport/commercial fleets and potentially buses. This advance will add to the medium-speed (Level 2) chargers that are already at the airports in indoor parking garages.
– EV Model Communities – Partner with a NYPA municipal or co-operative distribution utility to support an EV friendly model community that includes a utility-managed charging platform to ensure affordability, reliability, and grid efficiency. The community will test and scale new EV infrastructure and service business models that will encourage more residents to transition to driving EVs. Features may include developing home and public charging “subscriptions,” an online customer portal, and EV education events.