$21M grant to fund EV fast chargers along major New York travel routes

NEW YORK STATE (WRGB) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced Friday $21 million is now available to install electric vehicle fast chargers along major travel corridors across New York State.

Funded by a federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) grant, the State’s new competitive Upstate NEVI Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) program supports the expansion of DCFC infrastructure to improve consumer access to a network of reliable electric vehicle charging. The initial round of funding focuses on locations along and north of Interstate 84, including areas of the State north to the Canadian border and west to Buffalo.

“As we make the transition away from gas-powered vehicles, New York is accelerating the number of electric vehicle fast chargers available to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality in our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “With the strong support of the Biden-Harris Administration, this federal funding supplements our ongoing investments in clean transportation advancements and ensures drivers throughout the state have access to a quick charge when they need it.”

The competitive Upstate NEVI DCFC Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), provides funding to qualified electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure developers to install and operate DCFC stations at one or more sites along Federal Highway Administration-designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). Proposed sites must meet all federal requirements, including being located within one travel mile of an exit, being publicly accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and having the ability to charge at least four electric vehicles simultaneously. Sites are also required to have no less than 150 kilowatts and must meet federal uptime requirements for the percentage of time the charging station is functional. Proposals that close gaps between existing and planned charging stations, offer amenities such as restrooms and food, or have stations that provide multiple types of charging connectors (CCS and NACS) will be prioritized.

Designated AFCs eligible under the first round of the program include:

• Interstate 81
• Interstate 84
• Interstate 86
• Interstate 87 north of I-84
• Interstate 88
• Interstate 90
• Interstate 190
• Interstate 390
• Interstate 490
• New York 13 between I-86 and I-81
• New York 17 north of I-84

Proposals are due on December 4, 2024 by 3:00 p.m. ET. A complete list of all eligibility rules and evaluation criteria can be found at the solicitation summary on NYSERDA’s website.

NYSERDA will host a webinar on September 19 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. and another webinar on October 21 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. to provide more details on the solicitation, project requirements and the application process.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “NYSERDA is eager to facilitate access to this federal support for charging station developers to expand the availability of charging stations in New York. This funding provides more charging options for drivers along highly traveled roads, shortening the distance between stations, reducing range anxiety, and improving system reliability.”

New York State was allocated $175 million under the federal NEVI program and was one of the first states to open a DCFC site with NEVI funding in December 2023. This was quickly followed by two additional locations opening in the first quarter of 2024 and six more DCFC NEVI-funded sites are expected to come online in New York by the end of next year. New York’s NEVI Plan describes how the State will invest its funding and was developed by NYSDOT in collaboration with NYSERDA; the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); the New York Power Authority (NYPA); the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS); the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA); and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA).

Additionally, Governor Hochul in March announced more than 100 new electric vehicle fast chargers will be built in New York City. Electric vehicle purchases in New York have risen 660 percent in the last five years, and there are currently more than 15,000 chargers (a combination of DCFC and Level 2 chargers) at more than 4,000 locations across the state.