NYC DOT and TLC Unveil Next Phase of Public Electric Vehicle Fast Charging in the Bronx and Brooklyn

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2024
Contact: (212) 839-4850, [email protected]

NYC DOT and TLC Unveil Next Phase of Public Electric Vehicle Fast Charging in the Bronx and Brooklyn

To Meet Growing Demand, New Fast Chargers Are Coming This Year to NYC DOT Municipal Parking Fields at White Plains Road and in Bensonhurst

The New Charging Stations Will Support Administration's Green Rides Initiative and PlaNYC Goals; Newest Neighborhoods Have High Concentration of Licensed Taxi and Limousine Drivers

NEW YORK - With more New Yorkers transitioning to electric vehicles, New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced the next phase of expansion of the city's network of public electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers. Construction has begun on new fast-charging stations at NYC DOT parking fields in the Bronx and Brooklyn - located within communities where drivers licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) are highly concentrated. Both sites are slated for completion by the end of the year. Expanding access to fast charging will help achieve the Adams administration's Green Rides program goal to make all shared rides zero-emission or wheelchair accessible by 2030. This charging infrastructure will also be open to the public.

"As a former cab driver, I understand how important equity of access will be to our efforts to transition for-hire vehicles away from fossil fuels," said NYC DOTCommissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "By targeting Bronx and Southern Brooklyn neighborhoods where we know many drivers live, we will better meet growing demand for more fast charging as well as advance our ambitious climate goals."

"TLC licensees have been instrumental in making New York City cleaner, safer, and more sustainable," said TLC Commissioner and Chair David Do. "They are zero-emissions heroes in the fight against the climate crisis. Since the start of the historic Green Rides Initiative, we have continued to work tirelessly with our partners to bring charging infrastructure to the neighborhoods where drivers live and work. This is another step in that direction."

The two locations where NYC DOT is now in the process of installing four fast chargers (three 50 kW units and one 175kW unit), capable of providing most electric vehicles with an 80% charge in 20 minutes to one hour, are:

1. White Plains Road Municipal Field (Pelham Parkway), 2071 White Plains Road, The Bronx (construction has begun; scheduled to open by November 2024)

1. Bensonhurst Municipal Field, 1763 86th Street, Brooklyn (construction to start in September, and scheduled to open by January 2025)

In addition to the four fast chargers at these locations, these lots will also be equipped with four Level 2 chargers, which can provide most EVs a full charge in 6-8 hours.

The Bronx is currently the borough with the fewest fast chargers, so today's announcement helps advance Mayor Adams' PlaNYC goal of having all New Yorkers live within 2.5 miles of a fast charger by 2035. Today, only 71% of New Yorkers live that close to a fast charger, with the majority of the infrastructure concentrated in Manhattan and inner Brooklyn and Queens.

The new fast chargers add to the city's growing network of public charging stations. Prior to this year, NYC DOT had three fast-charging stations in operation (at Queens Borough Hall and Court Square municipal garages in Queens and the Delancey/Essex garage in lower Manhattan). In addition to these hubs, 100 curbside on-street Level 2 chargers have been installed by the agency in partnership with Con Edison since 2021, helping New York City spearhead the recent growth in EVs in the state. As of July 2024, 62,192 EVs are now registered in NYC, representing 26% of all EVs registered in the State; last year, New York City only represented 21% of the total.

NYC DOT plans to roll out additional fast charging stations across the city at its lots and garages, including three city-funded stations and up to 11 hubs funded through a partnership with the New York Power Authority (NYPA).

"New York City is making great progress in the development of fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and this initiative will significantly increase access for ride-share drivers and residents in all five boroughs," said Justin E. Driscoll, president and CEO of the Power Authority, which is managing the installation of the chargers. "As electric vehicle ownership increases, the Power Authority is collaborating with New York City to expand high-speed charging options that will advance the transition to zero-emission transportation."

"Through its PowerReady incentive program, Con Edison is supporting the buildout of a widespread network to bring electric vehicle charging to all New York City area drivers with $585 million of infrastructure incentives," said Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud, director, e-mobility, Con Edison. "We are proud to power the DOT's new fast chargers in the Bronx and Brooklyn, which will play an important role in bringing charging within reach of ride-hail vehicles and personal drivers and advancing our region's transition towards a cleaner energy future."

The 'Green Rides' Initiative:

Announced by Mayor Adams last October, the Green Rides Initiative outlines annual requirements for Uber and Lyft's transition to 100 percent zero-emission or WAV trips by 2030. The initiative makes New York City the first in the U.S. to commit to this kind of transition and is a key part of Mayor Eric Adams' 'Working People's Agenda'.

Green Rides' annual targets are designed to ensure a smooth and efficient transition to a cleaner, more accessible fleet by 2030. The original goals of 5 percent in 2024 were set to rise to 15 percent in 2025, but that target was met in January almost two full years ahead of schedule - with the current number at just over 19 percent. EV trips from January through July 2024 have saved about 17,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions across 69.9 million trip miles - the equivalent of removing over 4,046 gas-powered cars from the road for one year.

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