New York Announces $28.5 Million to Install Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Dec. 18 announced the availability of $28.5 million to install electric vehicle fast chargers across key travel corridors in the state. The additional capital is made available through the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI, formula funding program. The new competitive Downstate Direct Current Fast Charger, or DCFC program, will enhance consumer accessibility to reliable electric vehicle charging.

Under the NEVI program, $5 billion is available to develop a national electric vehicle charging network, an imperative step towards expanding access to EV charging infrastructure. The NEVI program intends to provide the funding across a period of five years to help states create a system of EV charging stations along selected Alternative Fuel Corridors, particularly along the Interstate Highway System. States must present an EV infrastructure deployment plan to the new Joint Office of Energy and Transportation before they can retrieve these funds. As part of the deployment plan, each state will have to describe how it plans to use the program funds, ensuring it is in line with the Federal Highway Administration guidance.

The Downstate NEVI DCFC Program, managed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in collaboration with the New York State Department of Transportation provides financing to qualified EV infrastructure developers to install and operate DCFC stations at one or more sites along FHWA designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.

The announcement builds on the $21 million made available in September under the NEVI DCDC program to increase the number of EV charging stations. Moreover, Governor Hochul announced in March over 100 new EV fast chargers will be built in New York City. EV purchases in the state have increased by 660 percent over the last years and as a result there are currently over 15,500 chargers at more than 4,500 public locations.

Proposals are due on March 18.