'EV Make-Ready' electric vehicle program will bring 50K new charging ports to the state
BERLIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 12: An electric car and a plug-in hybrid car charge at a public charging station on October 12, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. Germany is hoping to encourage electric car sales as a means to brining down CO2 emissions and combat climate change. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE N.Y. — On Friday, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that utility companies can now fully implement the state’s electric vehicle infrastructure program, ‘EV Make-Ready.’
The program will deploy over 50,000 new public and commercial level-two charging stations across the state by 2025 to increase the number of non-residential charging ports.
Gov. Hochul’s announcement comes after the State Public Service Commission recently approved the rules by which all major investor-owned utility companies in the state can continue to implement the program.
“New York leads the nation in clean energy innovation to combat climate change and bring environmental justice to impacted communities, and today’s decision brings us one step closer to a greener, emission-free future,” said Gov. Hochul. “The EV Make Ready program is designed to help electrify our transportation sector and support our mandate that all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state by 2035 be zero-emission while making sure all New Yorkers benefit from cleaner air and the creation of new, well-paying jobs.”
According to Gov. Hochul, the EV program provides funding for infrastructure required to support over 50,000 new charging ports that will be capable of charging a vehicle at least two times faster than a standard wall outlet.
The program will also provide funding for 1,500 public direct current fast charger ports in the state.
According to the governor, the program is being funded by investor-owned utility companies to create a cost-sharing program that incentivizes both utility companies and charging port developers to create charging sites in places that will be beneficial to consumers.
Gov. Hochul says the total budget is capped at $701 million to be used through 2025.
A minimum of $206 million will be allocated toward equal access and benefits for lower-income and disadvantaged communities. Electric vehicle charging ports in disadvantaged communities are eligible for a higher incentive.
According to Gov. Hochul, encouraging private investment in publicly accessible fast-charging ports will stimulate the electric vehicle market over the coming years.
The governor also says the transportation sector is responsible for the largest contribution to greenhouse gas pollution in the country, with emissions increasing more than any other sector over the last 30 years.
Electrifying transportation will allow New Yorkers to power vehicles with cleaner energy sources.