Con Edison, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), and FLO, a North American charging network, announced June 24 the installation of the first of 100 curbside Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports expected by October 2021. The citywide pilot program aims to increase the adoption of EVs, critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and will enable New York City to meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The four-year demonstration kicked off today in the Norwood section of the Bronx, where new rules limit parking at the new charging stations to electric vehicles.

"We’re working closely with the city and state to make it easier for all New Yorkers to replace gas-powered cars with zero-emission electric vehicles, and enjoy the benefits of cleaner air and a healthier environment as Con Edison continues its efforts to achieve its clean energy goals," said Lenny Singh, senior VP of Con Edison’s Customer Energy Solutions.

Providing EV charging at the curb will make the switch to electric easier for more New Yorkers, including the 50% of EV owners who park on the street. The program was made possible through funding by the New York State Public Service Commission’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative.

Electric-vehicle use has grown dramatically in recent years: New York City now has nearly 15,000 registered EVs, over 5,000 of which were purchased just in the last year. With that growth, new charging stations must come online to meet growing demand: right now, over 1,400 Level 2 charging plugs (which can provide an 80% charge in four to eight hours) and 117 fast charging plugs (providing an 80% charge in 30 - 60 minutes) can be found within New York City, with the vast majority located in Manhattan parking garages. The curbside pilot program will bring 100 Level 2 charging ports to over 20 neighborhoods across the five boroughs, with 20 additional charging ports serving city fleet vehicles. Charger port locations were selected based on input from local elected officials and community stakeholders, geographic diversity, and projected demand for charging. DOT and Con Edison will evaluate the performance of the charging stations over the course of the pilot period.

FLO is providing the charging units and will manage the network under contract with Con Edison. Each FLO unit is equipped with a standard connector compatible with most electric vehicles, has a retractable cord management system, and has a robust design intended for public deployment. Charging will cost $2.50 per hour during the day (7am-7pm) and $1.00 per hour overnight. A daytime charge will be equivalent to fueling up at a gas station, while overnight charging may be over 60% cheaper.