| October 1, 2020
The New York Power Authority and the New York State Thruway Authority are planning to install electric vehicle charging hubs at up to nine commuter Park and Ride lots along the Thruway system in upstate New York, the organizations said this week.
The Level 2 charging stations, provided by the organizations through the state’s EVolve NY and Charge NY programs, are designed to promote cleaner mobility and help reduce greenhouse gas pollution generated by the transportation sector. Encouraging more drivers to use electric vehicles and public transportation will help the state achieve its carbon-free electricity system goal by 2040 and expedite its transition to a clean energy economy, officials said.
“Strategically placing charging stations in Park and Ride lots along New York state’s most traveled highway will maximize use by commuters who take advantage of public transportation and help us achieve our goal of reducing overall statewide carbon emissions 85 percent by 2040,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew Driscoll. “Thruway commuters will now be able to park their electric vehicle and take public transportation or carpool to work and return to a fully charged vehicle at the end of the day. This is a win-win, environmentally friendly investment that will benefit commuters and nearby communities.”
The first four commuter lots are installed and operational and include Exit 48A, the Pembroke exit in Genesee County.
“Electric vehicles should be the easy choice for drivers and at NYPA we are leading the way in making charging as convenient as possible for New Yorkers and visitors,” said NYPA President and CEO Gil Quiniones. “Installing easily accessible charging hubs along our highways will provide a major service to travelers who opt for clean transportation while helping the state achieve Gov. Cuomo’s nation-leading electrification and climate protection goals.”
The stations are part of a package of major clean transportation initiatives statewide to expand the use of electric vehicles. A “make ready” order approved by the New York State Public Service Commission will advance the state’s commitment to cleaner mobility by using funding from investor-owned utilities to increase the electrification of the transportation sector, which is the nation’s largest source of greenhouse gas pollution.
Charging stations will be built in key locations to support expanded electric vehicle use with the goal of deploying more than 50,000 chargers by 2025.
The Park and Ride installations began in July and are scheduled to be completed this fall. Each installation will support two electric vehicles charging simultaneously. On average, a Level 2 charging station will fully charge an EV battery in four to five hours.
“The transportation sector is now New York’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and electrifying transportation is critical to meeting the state’s aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals,” said state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Increasing the number of charging ports at publicly accessible locations makes charging more convenient and will help support growth of electric vehicle markets while expanding infrastructure to support a smarter, more sustainable clean energy future.”
In addition to the new EV charging stations at commuter lots, NYPA also plans to install six Level 3 DC fast chargers at Thruway service areas in Western New York and the Finger Lakes region by the end of this year. The chargers are being donated by Nissan North America.