EV Charging Stations in New York
Electric vehicles (EVs) are more affordable and convenient to drive than ever before, but many owners struggle with finding places to charge their cars. Fortunately, the city and some private partners are working to add more EV charging stations across New York City. But where are these stations? And how do you know which ones will work with your car?
EV charging stations are typically located in public parking lots and garages. They’re reserved for EV drivers and usually marked with signs that say “EV Only” or “Charging Only.” In New York, most are operated by the NYC Department of Transportation in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. The stations feature up to four DC fast chargers (three 50kW and one 150 kW) and two Level 2 charging ports. EV owners can pay for charging on a per-hour basis via app, tap card or online. The fastest stations, also known as Level 3 or DCFC, can replenish a full battery in 20 minutes to 1 hour.
The type of EV plug that your vehicle uses varies from model to model, so you’ll need to find a station with the right kind of connector to fit your car. Most evcome are compatible with the common 240V AC outlets found at home and in some workplaces, while the faster DC chargers require a more complex connector system. Fortunately, apps like PlugShare and others show a list of charging stations from several networks at once, allowing you to compare rates and find the best option for your needs. The onboard trip planner in your EV may also help you locate nearby chargers, and many apps can tell you whether the plugs are in use or not.
Where Are EV Charging Stations in New York?
As with gas pumps, EV chargers sometimes break down and don’t always work properly. That’s especially true of the high-speed DCFC units, which have a reputation for being inconsistent.
There are a number of ways to offset the upfront cost of installing EV charging stations in your building, including NYSERDA and Con Edison incentive programs, which can cover up to 100% of the installation costs. Additionally, EVs can reduce your utility bills by reducing your demand on the electricity grid during peak periods.
The city is considering plans to subtract energy consumption attributed to charging stations from a building’s total metered usage—just one of the metrics that affects a building’s letter grade, energy score and potential fines related to Local Law 97. FirstService Residential recommends that boards and building owners consider investing in EV charging stations for their residents, particularly given the availability of these incentives.
As more people make the switch to EVs, the need for a dense network of charging stations will only increase. However, there are things that cities can do to limit the need for quite as many stations, such as promoting EV adoption by offering public EV loans and rebates, expanding bus and bike share programs, creating car-free districts, encouraging employers to offer free EV charging and requiring new buildings to install the technology.