Electric Vehicle Charge Station Program Governor Cuomo announces to promote use across NYS

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new electric vehicle campaign that includes the installation of charging stations. Also incentives for employers to encourage employees to drive electric vehicles. In addition, extensive public education and more importantly outreach. The increased use of electric vehicles will also help the state in achieving its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030. The campaign supports the Governor’s Charge NY initiative. For it will also be overseen by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSRRDA).

450 Charging Stations

Work on the projects will start immediately and will include the installation of 450 charging stations across the state. Of these, approximately 150 will be located at workplaces throughout New York. Thereby supporting Governor Cuomo’s State of the State proposal. All for the construction of 500 new workplace charging stations.

The units will also be installed in:

1. Rochester
2. Syracuse
3. Buffalo
4. Utica
5. Albany
6. the Hudson Valley
7. Westchester County
8. New York City
9. and Long Island. 

Additional projects in this campaign include:

1. Working with New York City-area public and private employers. Especially to create an incentive program specifically for their employees to encourage them to buy electric vehicles;
2. Conducting outreach to employers statewide to educate them on the benefits of providing workplace charging stations. Most importantly for their employees;
3. Hosting public test drive and ride events;
4. Providing innovative financing to make installing charging stations more economically viable for site owners;
5. And developing tourism routes specifically for electric vehicle owners that will highlight charging station locations in the Mid-Hudson Valley, including in the Catskills.

In addition, Rochester will launch a pilot to become an electric vehicle model city. The goal is to demonstrate how developing an electric vehicle ecosystem can increase electric vehicle adoption and prepare a community for long-term electric vehicle growth. State, city and community leaders worked together to identify actions to support Rochester’s evolution into an electric vehicle model city. For that’s including adding electric vehicles to the city fleet. Also, installing charging stations, creating a speaker’s bureau for community events and training for local dealerships. 
The projects will be managed by three contractors – EV Connect, Energetics and Calstart. All for a total of $4.8 million. Each contractor is responsible for different elements at specific locations, though all will be installing charging stations and administering marketing and outreach programs.

This electric vehicle campaign continues Governor Cuomo’s ongoing support to grow the number of electric vehicles in New York. Last fall, he announced $3 million for rebates through the Environmental Protection Fund for municipalities to purchase or lease zero-emission vehicles. For that’s such as battery electric and hydrogen vehicles, for their fleets. 

Over the summer, Sustainable Hudson Valley kicked off its Drive Electric Hudson Valley campaign to educate consumers about electric vehicles, which was supported by NYSERDA.

The state has also revised regulations to clarify charging station ownership rules, and supported research and demonstration projects on new plug-in electric car technologies and policies. In addition, the New York Power Authority has invited municipalities to tap into a master contract that offers better pricing for the supply, installation and maintenance of charging stations. 

Rural Charging Stations

The Governor has also announced the availability of another $3 million to help eligible municipalities and rural electricity cooperatives purchase electric vehicles for use in their municipal use fleets.

Source: Charge NY, Reforming the Energy Vision, www.ny.gov/REV4NY, NYSERDA