Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday a partnership with the New York Power Authority to expand Evolve NY, part of the governor's Charge NY 2.0 initiative, which aims to encourage and support electric car adoption by increasing the number of charging stations statewide. The latest effort is in line with a larger goal of installing at least 10,000 charging stations statewide by the end of 2021.
In addition to state funding, Cuomo said the program will also seek to create private-sector partnerships through 2025 to aggressively accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles throughout the state.
The power authority 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.
Over the next seven years, the power authority will commit up to $250 million and partner with the private sector and other key stakeholders to attract longer-term private investment and collaborate on programs that will amplify the Charge NY 2.0 program and address key infrastructure and potential market gaps. The funding will be awarded through the state's competitive procurement process.
The announcement supports the state's implementation of the Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan adopted in 2014, pursuant to the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding, in which nine states now participate. While that Action Plan was focused primarily on cars and small trucks, today's announcement is an example of New York's increasing focus on electrifying trucks and buses — some of the greatest emitters of dirty emissions.
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: The state will collaborate with the private sector, and other partners, to identify and install up to 200 direct current 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: The state will 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: The state will partner with an 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.
