New York Devotes $250 Million to EV Infrastructure

author: Mia Bevacqua   

New York is known for being at the forefront of the clean energy movement. Recently, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the state will dedicate up to $250 million towards the expansion of EVs.

With support from the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the funds will be dispensed through an EV expansion initiative called EVolve NY. The program will also attempt to gain funding and support through private sector partnerships through 2025.

"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."

EVolve NY will play a vital role in the Governor's Charge NY 2.0 initiative, which has a goal of 10,000 EV charging stations by 2021. It will also help New York reach its objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.

Last month, the NYPA approved the initial $40 million of funding for EVolve NY. This money will go towards the following:

Interstate fast chargers: DC fast chargers will be installed along critical interstate corridors. The intention is to have one charger every 30 miles in select areas. It's estimated that the units will be able to charge EV models in as little as 10 minutes, providing 200 miles of range.

Airport fast chargers: Areas in and around the John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports will get DC fast chargers. This layout will be a step up from the medium speed (Level 2) chargers that are already at the locations.

EV model communities: Utility-managed charging platforms will be tested in model communities to encourage EV adoption. Residents may be given access to charging subscriptions, an online customer portal, and education events.

New York has already put a lot of effort towards making EVs accessible. Currently, 400 public chargers are being installed throughout the state. High-speed chargers have also recently been installed on the New York Thruway, and 23 more are slated for other locations.

In adddition, New York City is rolling out a fleet of electric buses. These actions, combined with the state's Drive Clean Rebate Program, encouraged state residents to purchase 10,000 EVs in 2017. That's a 67% increase from the previous year.

Source: New York State

Mia Bevacqua

Mia is an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician, L1, L2 and L3 Advanced Level Specialist. She has over 12 years of experience in the automotive industry and a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology. These skills have been applied toward content writing, technical writing, inspections, consulting, automotive software engineering.