NEW YORK—The city’s first charging station for electric cars was unveiled at the Edison Parkfast parking lot located at 451 Ninth Ave. on Wednesday, in the hopes of encouraging New Yorkers to drive clean cars while taking an important step toward creating a viable market for electric vehicles.
The public charging station is provided by Coulomb Technologies under the ChargePoint America program, a $37 million project with $15 million funded by the Department of Energy under provisions in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, President Obama’s economic recovery bill.
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that charging stations will eventually be installed in all five boroughs by early next year, which will coincide with the appearance of new electric car models from companies like SmartUSA, Chevrolet, and Ford. The stations will appear in car dealerships, city-owned garages, as well as commercial garages for New Yorkers to use. Pricing is set by the property owner, much like gasoline stations, though CEO of Coulomb Technologies Richard Lowenthal said it is usually priced according to the charging time.
Edison Properties Chairman Jerry Gottesman said there will be free charging for drivers for the next thirty days. Afterward, there will likely be a price for charging. However, Lowenthal noted that driving an electric vehicle normally costs only a couple dollars a day, so fees for charging will be minimal.
Bloomberg also spoke of the significance of electric cars in reaching the goals of PlaNYC, the mayor’s sustainability project spanning more than two decades, which includes a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2030. Aside from green transportation like walking, riding bikes, and taking mass transit, electric cars will provide New Yorkers who still need to drive a cleaner alternative. “Coulomb Technologies and the ChargePoint America program will help us support a new type of vehicle on city streets so we can reduce pollution and emissions in the most efficient way,” said Bloomberg in a statement.
The public charging station is provided by Coulomb Technologies under the ChargePoint America program, a $37 million project with $15 million funded by the Department of Energy under provisions in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, President Obama’s economic recovery bill.
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that charging stations will eventually be installed in all five boroughs by early next year, which will coincide with the appearance of new electric car models from companies like SmartUSA, Chevrolet, and Ford. The stations will appear in car dealerships, city-owned garages, as well as commercial garages for New Yorkers to use. Pricing is set by the property owner, much like gasoline stations, though CEO of Coulomb Technologies Richard Lowenthal said it is usually priced according to the charging time.
Edison Properties Chairman Jerry Gottesman said there will be free charging for drivers for the next thirty days. Afterward, there will likely be a price for charging. However, Lowenthal noted that driving an electric vehicle normally costs only a couple dollars a day, so fees for charging will be minimal.
Bloomberg also spoke of the significance of electric cars in reaching the goals of PlaNYC, the mayor’s sustainability project spanning more than two decades, which includes a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2030. Aside from green transportation like walking, riding bikes, and taking mass transit, electric cars will provide New Yorkers who still need to drive a cleaner alternative. “Coulomb Technologies and the ChargePoint America program will help us support a new type of vehicle on city streets so we can reduce pollution and emissions in the most efficient way,” said Bloomberg in a statement.
