NYC DOT, Con Edison, and FLO unveil New York City’s first curbside electric vehicle charging stations

The City’s first curbside electric-vehicle charging station has been installed in the Norwood section of the Bronx; 100 curbside ports across the five boroughs will be installed by October, providing a convenient charging option as EV use surges

THE BRONX, June 24, 2021 – The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), Con Edison, and FLO today announced the installation of the first of 100 curbside Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports expected by this October. 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.

“Transportation is responsible for nearly 30 per cent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, most of which come from passenger cars,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “With sales of EVs at record levels, now is the time to develop a robust, convenient and publicly-accessible charging network so that more New Yorkers can go electric. The new charger we put into service today, and more coming soon, will help fulfill our agency’s mission of providing safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation – and we thank our partners at Con Edison and FLO for making it possible.”

“Convenient curbside charging for EVs is a game-changer especially for those without access to private parking and charging ports,” said Lenny Singh, Senior Vice President of Con Edison’s Customer Energy Solutions. “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.”

“The future is coming, and it’s electric!” said Ben Furnas, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability. “After the most transformative year on New York City streets in generations, we are going further to reclaim our streets from fossil fuel vehicles by providing more New Yorkers with access to curbside EV charging stations. Even as we transform our streetscape to make it safer and more pleasant to get around on foot, by bike, and on transit, a shift towards electric vehicles will mean cleaner air, quieter neighborhoods, and lower greenhouse gas emissions for all New Yorkers. Congratulations to the Department of Transportation and ConEdison on this exciting milestone.”

Providing EV charging at the curb will make the switch to electric easier for more New Yorkers, including the 50 per cent 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, a leading North American charging network operator for EVs 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. The chargers also feature a custom exterior to match the look and feel of New York City’s family of street furniture, as approved by the Public Design Commission. 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.

“We are very pleased to inaugurate our first FLO chargers in New York today, beginning with the Bronx. This is an important milestone for FLO as we deploy our network across all five boroughs and accelerate our expansion in the United States,” said Louis Tremblay, President and CEO of FLO. “Widespread EV adoption needs to be supported by reliable and accessible charging infrastructure. Thanks to a fruitful collaboration with Con Edison and NYCDOT, this is exactly what we are starting to present to New Yorkers today.”

“As Chair of the New York City Council’s Environmental Committee, I am proud to support this initiative, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution,” said Council Member James F. Gennaro. “By installing 120 new curbside charging stations, we are sending an important message to New Yorkers — that making the switch to an electric vehicle has never been easier. I would like to thank Commissioner Gutman, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Con Edison and FLO for all of their hard work to make New York City more environmentally-friendly.”

“We will need deep cuts in our transportation emissions in order to meet our climate goals. That’s why encouraging more New Yorkers to go electric is one of NYLCV’s top priorities. This charging station installation is a great step forward in electrification – it shows that EVs are the right choice for the environment, convenience, and our pocketbook. Thank you to the NYC Department of Transportation and Con Edison for your leadership,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.

About FLO

FLO is a leading North American electric vehicle charging network operator and a major provider of smart charging software and equipment. Every month, FLO and its parent company, AddEnergie, enable approximately half a million charging events and the transfer of 5.5 GWh in electricity, thanks to over 40,000 high-quality stations deployed on public networks, commercial and residential installations. FLO | AddEnergie’s headquarters and network operations centre are based in Quebec City, and its assembly plant is located in Shawinigan (Quebec). The company also has an office in Montreal and regional teams located in Ontario, British Columbia, California and New York. For more information, visit flo.com.

Contact Information:
Mahmoud Shabeeb
Senior Advisor, Media Relations and Outreach
mshabeeb@flo.com
(905) 312-0046