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.
U.S. Secretary of Housing and Development Shaun Donovan was also at the unveiling to represent the Obama administration’s support for such green initiatives. “It’s a great honor to be here … to see for myself how 15 million funded through the president’s Recovery Act is creating private sector jobs and helping catalyze a new electric vehicle market here in New York City.” While creating new jobs, ChargePoint is also providing the necessary infrastructure for wide usage of electric vehicles. They help to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce a dependence on oil, which is in line with the administration’s dedication to “making green industries an engine of economic growth, jobs, and opportunity,” said Donovan. By the end of 2013, more than 20,000 charging stations will appear in the nation, thanks to funding from the Recovery Act.
CEO of Coulomb Technologies Richard Lowenthal said around 100 public stations will be installed in Manhattan, with a total of up to 300 in the entire New York area. This makes New York a part of “the electric vehicle transformation of the United States,” Lowenthal added.
The stations are integrated into the smart grid, allowing for “responsible charging so we don’t have to add more generation into our grid network in order to charge these vehicles,” Lowenthal said. He noted that millions of cars can charge their batteries without adding more power generation.
Lowenthal also explained that three jobs are created for each station—one for the person who builds the station, and two for the installers. Though the number of new jobs may appear insignificant, Mayor Bloomberg and Secretary Donovan both agreed that the key is providing the infrastructure to jumpstart the industry. Donovan said, “This is about creating that momentum ... by making sure we build this industry and we give it momentum to the point where it will become self-sustaining and start creating hundreds of thousands of jobs around the country.”
Charging stations can be requested through Chargepoint’s website for homes, as well as public and commercial facilities at no cost. An iPhone app can also be downloaded for station locations and pricing information.
CEO of Coulomb Technologies Richard Lowenthal said around 100 public stations will be installed in Manhattan, with a total of up to 300 in the entire New York area. This makes New York a part of “the electric vehicle transformation of the United States,” Lowenthal added.
The stations are integrated into the smart grid, allowing for “responsible charging so we don’t have to add more generation into our grid network in order to charge these vehicles,” Lowenthal said. He noted that millions of cars can charge their batteries without adding more power generation.
Lowenthal also explained that three jobs are created for each station—one for the person who builds the station, and two for the installers. Though the number of new jobs may appear insignificant, Mayor Bloomberg and Secretary Donovan both agreed that the key is providing the infrastructure to jumpstart the industry. Donovan said, “This is about creating that momentum ... by making sure we build this industry and we give it momentum to the point where it will become self-sustaining and start creating hundreds of thousands of jobs around the country.”
Charging stations can be requested through Chargepoint’s website for homes, as well as public and commercial facilities at no cost. An iPhone app can also be downloaded for station locations and pricing information.
