Adams Administration Wins $15 Million Federal Grant to Build Nation's Largest Municipal Curbside EV Charging Program

August 28, 2024

At Least 50 Percent of New Charging Locations WillServe Disadvantaged and Low-Income Neighborhoods

Builds on City's Effort to Reduce Transportation Emissions, Create Inclusive Green Economy

City's Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force HasWon Total of $850 Million in Competitive Grants

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that New York City has won a $15 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to build the nation's largest curbside electric vehicle (EV) charging program. The funding will allow for an additional 600 Level 2 chargers to be installed along streets across the five boroughs, with more than half of those chargers designated for disadvantaged and low-income neighborhoods. Additionally, the funding will allow the city to build 32 solar-powered charging ports at eight different New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) locations throughout the city. This builds on the city's existing 100-charger pilot program, launched in conjunction with Con Edison, and supports the city's goals to transition 100 percent of for-hire vehicle rides to electric or wheelchair-accessible vehicles by 2030.

"We're building a cleaner, greener, and more affordable city for all New Yorkers, and through initiatives like this, we're making sure that no New Yorkers are left behind," said Mayor Adams. "This $15 million grant will let us build the nation's largest EV charging program, focused on low-income and disadvantaged areas so people living in all five boroughs can afford to drive and charge electric vehicles - especially as we continue to transition all of our for-hire vehicles to EVs through our 'Green Rides' initiative. My thanks to the Biden-Harris administration for issuing this grant and to our congressional delegation for helping bring this vital funding back home."

"Supporting the transition to electric vehicles means ensuring that everyone has quick and easy access to chargers - especially taxi and for-hire-vehicle drivers, who will lead the way towards a modal shift," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. "Deep thanks to the Biden-Harris administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation for their continued investment in New York City's evolving and climate-ready streetscape."

"Combined with efforts to promote mass transit and cycling, this grant will help us take a big step toward decarbonizing the transportation sector in New York City. The electrification of transportation across five boroughs, including for-hire vehicles, is a vital step in combating the climate crisis for future generations," said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "But we must ensure no New Yorker is left behind in the transition to a sustainable tomorrow. 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. We thank the Biden-Harris administration, the New York congressional delegation, Mayor Eric Adams, and our sister agencies for their support."

"This is a win for both working-class New Yorkers and for making our city cleaner and more livable," said New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Do. "With the use of EVs surging thanks to the 'Green Rides' initiative, we know that the chargers coming out of this grant are not only needed but will go right where they're needed most - in neighborhoods where TLC drivers live."

Curbside EV Charger at Norman Avenue in Brooklyn. Credit: DOT

This expansion builds on DOT's successful curbside EV charging pilot, a partnership with Con Edison. The current system of 100 chargers has the highest utilization of any such system, with an average utilization of 70 percent across all 35 sites throughout the five boroughs. Utilization is measured as the proportion of time an EV is plugged into the charger over a 24-hour period each day. These new chargers will play a critical role in the city's ambitious "Green Rides " initiative, which requires Uber and Lyft to transition to 100 percent electric or wheelchair-accessible for-hire vehicles by 2030. The chargers will support hard-working, mostly immigrant for-hire vehicles drivers with affordable charging options where they live and work. It will also allow DOT to advance the development of charging infrastructure for micromobility options like e-bikes in the future. As part of New York City's comprehensive electrification and zero emissions strategy, this project will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, including averting an estimated 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This emissions reduction is equivalent to what's generated by 20.4 million miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle.

Recent federal legislation, including the Biden-Harris administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, have made unprecedented amounts of federal funding available for key projects across the country. Recognizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Mayor Adams formed the Federal Infrastructure Funding Task Force. Under Deputy Mayor Joshi's guidance, that task force evaluates the competitive grant opportunities available, with a focus on new opportunities made possible through both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, and works to break down silos and foster creativity across city agencies. The city has aligned its priorities for high-quality, sustainable, and equitable infrastructure with aggressive and creative grant applications from a wide range of infrastructure agencies. To date, the city has received over $850 million in competitive federal infrastructure grant awards from these sources.

Today's announcement builds on the Adams administration's efforts to make getting around New York City both more accessible and more affordable, particularly for young people and low-income New Yorkers. In the Fiscal Year 2025 Adopted Budget, the administration partnered with the City Council to invest an additional $20.7 million in "Fair Fares NYC," expanding eligibility for half-price fares to people making 145 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. The budget also included $11 million to provide free MetroCards to Summer Youth Employment Program participants, who - thanks to the Adams administration's efforts - are also eligible for free two-month Citi Bike memberships. In 2023, Mayor Adams launched a historic greenway expansion to build 40 new miles of protected bike infrastructure in the outer boroughs, bringing safer, greener transportation options to the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. In 2022, Mayor Adams unveiled "NYC Ferry Forward," which created a discount program, similar to Fair Fares, in which seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income riders pay reduced fares for ferry rides.

"I am proud of my work to accelerate our transition to electric vehicles, a critical step for our sustainable future," said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. "In Albany, I helped pass legislation requiring all new vehicles sold in the state to be zero emission by 2035. Mayor Adams is now ensuring this policy's success by deploying the nation's largest curbside charging program. Placing 600 chargers across all five boroughs will put us on the fast track to our goal of all New Yorkers being within 2.5 miles of a charging hub. Significantly, more than half of chargers will be in underserved neighborhoods, allowing the communities most impacted by emissions to have an easy transition to emission free vehicles. Together, we will drive down transportation emissions and charge full speed ahead to a sustainable city."

"As we confront the urgent threat of climate change, investments like the $15 million grant to expand New York City's curbside electric vehicle charging infrastructure are vital to building a sustainable and inclusive future," said New York State Assemblymember Brian Cunningham. "By prioritizing neighborhoods impacted most by climate change, this program not only reduces transportation emissions but also ensures that all New Yorkers, regardless of zip code, have access to the benefits of clean energy. I applaud Mayor Adams and the city for their leadership in making our green economy more equitable and inclusive for everyone."

"This transformative $15 million investment from the federal government will significantly enhance our electric vehicle infrastructure, particularly in neighborhoods that have historically been underserved," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. "By expanding access to safe and reliable EV charging, we are not only supporting the transition to cleaner transportation alternatives but also addressing long-standing disparities in our EV infrastructure. This initiative is a significant step forward in ensuring that all Bronx residents, regardless of their neighborhood, have equitable access to charging facilities, fostering a more sustainable and inclusive future for our borough. I want to thank Mayor Eric Adams for his continued investment in reducing transportation emissions and making electric vehicle ownership a practical and widespread reality."

"Queens and New York City have been battered by climate change in recent years, but we are continuing to turn that pain into purpose as we become global leaders in clean energy and green technology. This federal grant is a critical step forward in that goal, as we build out the necessary infrastructure to foster society's transition to electric vehicles," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "There is no mission more critical than ensuring our children and grandchildren have not just a habitable environment, but a thriving one, and I look forward to the work ahead alongside this administration in building toward that future."

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