Mayor pushes climate action agenda with plan for electric vehicle charging hubs

Leading the charge.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday, September 20 plans to expand significantly access to electric vehicle (EV) charging for residents under the development of new fast charging stations across the city.

In hopes of making 20 percent of motor vehicle registrations in New York City electric by 2025, the city will invest $10 million to develop these hubs, which will have up to 20 chargers per site. Beginning in 2018, the city will partner with Con Edison to identify at least one site in every borough – these five hubs having the capacity to charge more than 12,000 electric vehicles every week.

This, the mayor said, is his next step in his climate action agenda.

“New York City will continue to invest in the new technologies we need to reduce our emissions, especially in the face of Trump’s abdication of leadership on climate,” said de Blasio. “By helping develop the infrastructure necessary for electric vehicles, we’re going to make it easier than ever for New Yorkers to switch. This is another step towards aligning our action on climate change with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree stretch goal.”

The city hopes to have 50 fast-charging hubs citywide by 2020, among other EV advancements.