ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS INSTALLED AT METRO-NORTH STATIONS

For Immediate Release: 10/14/15

Contact: 
Maura Balaban | Maura.Balaban@nypa.gov | (914) 390-8171

NYPA and NYSERDA Team Up on New EV Infrastructure in Hudson Valley

WHITE PLAINS - The Hudson Valley now has 12 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at Metro-North train stations in Cortlandt, Southeast and Beacon, stemming from a collaboration with the New York Power Authority and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

The installations are part of a planned network of up to 3,000 EV stations at public and workplace locations across New York.

The charging stations have been installed under Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s initiative, Charge NY, launched to bring about greater use of plug-in vehicles, which is also part of the Governor’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) plan to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.

“The Power Authority is proud to help move clean transportation forward in New York with a consumer-oriented approach to vital EV infrastructure,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “With a network of charging stations across the state, we enable driving electric vehicles longer distances and support adoption of this clean technology.”

The latest charging stations are among 83 that NYPA and NYSERDA have partnered on statewide in 2015. They expect to have 17 more in service by the end of the year.

“The installation of these charging stations offers multiple benefits – it promotes public transportation, encourages the use of electric vehicles and is beneficial to the environment. We are encouraging greater use and acceptance of these emission-free vehicles and helping the State achieve its energy goals under Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision,” said John B. Rhodes, NYSERDA president and CEO.

“Metro-North is proud that it provides a sustainable means of transportation through its widely used train service,” Metro-North President Joe Giulietti said. “Providing an environmentally friendly connection to our rail service to facilitate the use of zero-emission vehicles was a logical next step.”

The charging stations are each capable of supplying up to 6 kilowatts of power to an electric vehicle. Charge times will vary depending on the size and type of car, but for mid-sized cars (e.g., the Chevrolet Volt or Nissan Leaf), charging is expected to take about four hours. Commuters will be charged 17 cents per kilowatt and would typically pay less than a dollar to charge up.

The charging stations are equipped with software allowing users to remotely monitor the charging process as well as pay for the battery charge, if applicable.

Since Charge NY was launched, more than 600 EV charging stations have been added in New York, bringing the current total in the state to approximately 1,200. This puts New York within reach of the Charge NY goal of 3,000 charging stations by 2018. Charge NY's success came about through partnerships between state entities, charging station manufacturers and installers and public and private property owners, including municipalities, shopping centers, public parking lots and garages, large apartment building owners, museums and tourist attractions.

Nearly 13,500 EVs are operating in the state, compared to 2,500 EVs when Charge NY was launched in 2013.

Hi-res

Photo Credit: NYPA

About NYPA
NYPA is the nation's largest state public power organization, through the operation of its 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. More than 70 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. Follow @NYPAenergy on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, WordPress, YouTube, and LinkedIn.