With high and unpredictable gas prices becoming a constant in New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo has set plans in motion to install about 325 new electric vehicle charging stations across the state.
Electric vehicle charging stations. Photo courtesy of inhabitat.com.
Cuomo has awarded $4.4 million in state funding to be distributed among 10 facilitators – comprising of companies, municipalities, and state-operated power and transportation authorities – to make the installations.
“With New Yorkers facing higher prices at the pump, the state is stepping up to make owning an electric vehicle an affordable and convenient option,” said Cuomo.
The governor’s office hopes that an infrastructure of electric charging stations will help reduce oil reliance in the state and promote the sale of electric cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
Transportation currently makes up about three-fourths of New York State’s oil consumption, and nearly 40 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The state’s electric vehicle charging station project is part of a joint effort by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy.
The NYSERDA is also planning to manage a $10 million fund that will offer vouchers of up to $20,000 per vehicle for the purchase of electric commercial trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds.
Last year, the NYSERDA received a $1 million U.S. Department of Energy grant as part of the Transportation and Climate Initiative, whose goal is to “accelerate the introduction of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Northeast, making the region a hub for electric vehicles through public and private partnerships.”
President Barrack Obama has mandated seeing one million plug-in vehicles on the roads nationwide by 2015.
In New York State, the electric vehicle charging stations will be installed by the following:
- Access Technology Integration Inc. – Plans to install charging stations with reservation and payment systems at seven locations around the Albany area, including St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany-Rensselaer Train Station, Times Union Center, universities, supermarkets, and other locations. NYSERDA funding: $244,000.
- Beam Charging LLC – Plans to install a total of 28 charging stations, each one in a separate public parking garage around Manhattan for the purpose of gathering data to determine how well such charging stations are used. NYSERDA funding: $400,000.
- Car Charging Group Inc. – Plans to install charging stations at up to 15 high-traffic locations in New York City directed toward apartment dwellers who do not have parking at home. Sites will go in parking garages that are used primarily for monthly parking. NYSERDA funding: $200,000.
- City of Rochester – Plans to install 24 charging stations at seven highly-visible and busy locations around the city, including municipal parking garages, City Hall, the Port of Rochester, and the Rochester Public Market. NYSERDA funding: $228,000.
- Coulomb Technologies Inc. – Partnering with National Grid, Coulomb will deploy 81 dual charging stations with Coulomb’s ChargePoint software. The technology will demonstrate a web-based demand response program, a new low-cost installation method, and a customized reservation system. NYSERDA funding: $1 million.
- EV Connect Inc. – Plans to install electric vehicle charging stations at five Marriott hotels around New York State that make use of a reservation and payment system. Project will make it possible for overnight visitors to charge their vehicles while staying at a hotel. NYSERDA funding: $250,000.
- Golub Corp. (Price Chopper Supermarkets) – Plans to install 12 charging stations at four locations, each equipped with a weather canopy and lighting to make them visible. This is the first phase of an intended statewide rollout. NYSERDA funding: $325,000.
- New York Port Authority – Plans to install seven experimental charging stations for fleet vehicles and public use. NYSERDA funding: $720,000.
- New York Power Authority – Plans to install 124 charging stations at train and bus stations, as well as at airports and municipal parking lots. Three sites will be powered in part through on-site solar power. NYSERDA funding: $989,000.
- Plugin Stations Online – Plans to install charging stations at three apartment complexes in Albany, Rochester and Buffalo, as well as one at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy. NYSERDA funding: $64,000.
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