White Plains charging station

Photo credit: Trish Hennessy

White Plains charging station

Photo credit: Trish Hennessy

WHITE PLAINS, NY. Just in time for national Drive Electric Week (September 15-21), Mayor Tom Roach has announced the installation and activation of ten additional electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in public parking garages throughout White Plains. These new installations bring the total number of publicly accessible charging stations in White Plains to twenty, making the City a leader in offering this technology to the public.

In early 2012, White Plains was one of the first municipalities in Westchester County to install electric vehicle charging stations. Those ten stations are geared toward commuters and are located adjacent to the White Plains TransCenter Garage. The ten newly installed EV charging stations are located in the following public parking garages:

1. Lexington-Grove East Garage (Galleria East) – 100 Main Street – 3 chargers 
2. Hamilton-Main Garage – 365 Hamilton Avenue – 3 chargers 
3. Longview-Cromwell Garage – 11 Longview Avenue – 2 chargers 
4. Lyon Place Garage – 1 Lyon Place – 2 chargers

The new charging stations were supported and installed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). They support Charge NY, a statewide initiative launched by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to help bring about greater use of plug-in EVs.

The charging stations lay a foundation for additional investments in clean technologies by the private sector, and reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. They are part of a series of 100 such installations that NYPA and NYSERDA are partnering on in the coming months that will be located at 37 public and workplace locations. Each is 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, Ford C-MAX Hybrid Energi or Nissan Leaf), charging is expected to take approximately four hours.

To utilize a charging station, customers should download the free ‘EV Connect’ app. This will activate the charging station and allow the customer to monitor the charging process remotely. Once the app has been activated, the customer pays $1.50/hour, which covers both parking and electricity, through the normal payment process at the garage pay stations.  The software also collects and transmits data on frequency of use, length of charges and amount of energy dispensed, to provide NYPA and NYSERDA input for use in locating future charging infrastructure.

Since Charge NY was launched, nearly 500 EV charging stations have been added in New York, bringing the current total number in the state to approximately 1,000. This puts the state well within reach of the Charge NY goal of 3,000 charging stations by 2018.  Nearly 10,000 EVs are operating in the state, compared to 2,500 EVs when Charge NY was launched in 2013.

“White Plains was pleased to partner with NYPA and NYSERDA to bring additional EV charging stations into the City,” said White Plains Mayor Tom Roach. “White Plains has long been a business, shopping and entertainment hub. The installation of these stations in easily accessible locations throughout the city provides yet another reason to choose White Plains. Drivers of electric vehicles now know that they can come to White Plains for business, shopping, and entertainment and be assured they will be able to charge their vehicles at the same time.”

“The Power Authority is proud to help move clean transportation forward in New York with a consumer-oriented approach to vital EV infrastructure. A network of charging stations strategically located across the state will make it possible for electric vehicles to be driven longer distances and support adoption of this clean technology,” said Gil C. Quiniones, President and Chief Executive Officer, NYPA.

“NYSERDA and NYPA are working together to advance Governor Cuomo’s agenda to increase zero-emissions vehicles in New York State and build a state-wide electric vehicle infrastructure and a state-wide electric vehicle industry,” said John B. Rhodes, President and Chief Executive Officer, NYSERDA. “This partnership is one example of how the State is supporting programs to protect the environment, reduce the use of fossil fuels and expand the clean-energy economy in New York State.”

Background on NYPA’s work with EVs: Since 1995, NYPA has played a significant role in developing and expanding electric-drive vehicle use in the state.  The Authority’s efforts have led to the placement of more than 1,300 electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid EVs in the fleets of public entities across the state as well as in its own fleet of vehicles.

Background on NYSERDA’s work with EVs: Since 2012, NYSERDA has been working through public-private partnerships toward the goal of installing 900 charging stations across New York at locations such as municipalities, city streets, supermarkets, hotels and parking garages. NYSERDA offers the New York Electric Truck Voucher Incentive Program, which helps offset the extra cost of investing in electric trucks for fleet use. In addition, NYSERDA supports research and demonstration projects to promote EV investment, and has led an 11-state group to develop EV-station best practices for local governments.

This article is a repost, credit: City of White Plains.

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