New York State unveiled the first fast-charging station for electric vehicles (EV) in Monroe County today – highlighting the Village of Fairport’s role as a first-mover community working to accelerate the use of electric vehicles. The Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) hub in Fairport is the sixth fast charging station completed as part of a statewide EVolve NY charging network being installed along key travel corridors and in urban areas to encourage travelers to drive EVs. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) initiative makes charging quick and convenient and helps the state meet Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s ambitious statewide clean energy goals that include reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
“The Power Authority is building a robust network of fast, affordable, and reliable public charging stations across the state while simultaneously working to raise awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA’s president and CEO. “Fairport continues to step up as a leader in the Finger Lakes region and show a firm commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and integrating EVs into its community. Fairport’s EV enthusiasm is helping us support Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s nation-leading clean energy agenda and moving New York further along on its path to carbon neutrality.”
The new 175 kW two-charger hub, centrally located in the parking lot for Fairport Village Landing, is the first fast charger over 50 kW that provides non-proprietary charging in Monroe County. With a dedicated Tesla adapter cable, it can power any compatible electric vehicle.
The only other fast chargers in the region are Supercharger sites that can only be used by Teslas. The Village Landing site, just steps away from the iconic Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal and the newly completed Bicentennial Canal Gateway at Kennelley Park, hosts the Fairport Farmer’s Market and offers a variety of retail shops, offices and the Fairport Public Library within walking distance of the fast-charging hub.
Fairport was designated NYPA’s first EVolve NY Electric Vehicle Accelerator Community last year in recognition of its efforts to accelerate the adoption of EVs and foster a community and culture that supports zero-emission vehicles. With 14 EVs in its municipal utility fleet and various EV technology pilot projects underway, the village is an early adopter of electric and hybrid vehicles.
In addition to the new DCFC units which will support rapid charging of personal and ride share vehicles, the village is collaborating with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to install 50 home charging stations and 28 Level 2 public chargers elsewhere in the community. A community engagement and education program will be expanded in 2021 to offer events like ride and drive opportunities, charger demonstrations, outreach through schools, forums for public comments, and engagement with local business and community leaders.
“The Village of Fairport is so proud to have a long and advantageous partnership with the New York Power Authority. This latest endeavor continues to promote our mutual interest by providing green infrastructure for use by all consumers as we progress electric vehicle usage into our daily lives,” said Fairport Mayor Julie Domaratz. “As an EV Model Community, Fairport now has two state-of-the-art DC Fast Charging Electric Vehicle Stations to complement the 26 Level 2 stations currently in use by our community. The offering of this service will promote future green investment and permit electric vehicle owners to visit Fairport and all it has to offer. Fairport is committed to converting its entire vehicle fleet to electric and we are well on our way.”
Dave Reed, a Fairport EV driver and member of the Rochester EV Accelerator Volunteers and the New York State Electric Auto Association, said he and his wife Tammy are pleased to see the installation of the first Ultra-Fast DC charger that all EVs can use in Fairport.
“EVolve NY’s hard work to make EV charging accessible and available to the Fairport community is greatly appreciated,” said Dave Reed. “When I first started driving my EV, daily travel was easily accomplished charging at home. However, longer trips were difficult due to the time needed to charge along the way. Being able to add significant range in a few minutes instead of hours makes long distance travel far more practical.”
The new installation also complements the Governor’s “Make Ready” program, which will use funding from investor-owned utilities to add even more EV charging stations that will be built in key locations to support expanded EV use with a goal of deploying more than 50,000 chargers by 2025. Such electrification efforts, in collaboration with NYSERDA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), will help the state reach its aggressive clean energy goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, legislation that was signed into law in 2019.
NYPA’s first Evolve NY charging stations were recently announced in LaGrangeville, Watertown, Malone, Schroon Lake and John F. Kennedy International Airport. By the end of 2021, EVolve NY’s fast charging network will include up to 150 chargers at 50 locations along major New York transportation corridors, as well as in key urban locations from Buffalo to New York City.
Access to fast chargers, which can charge compatible EVs in as little as 20 minutes, fills key gaps to wider adoption of EVs, making them an easier and more realistic choice for drivers. Charging times vary based on the vehicles’ on-board charging equipment and the vehicle’s battery capacity. “Level 2” public chargers, often seen at businesses and workplaces, can take up to six hours for a full charge and are intended for use while drivers are working or shopping, or for those who don’t have access to charging at home or work.
NYPA launched its EVolve NY charging infrastructure initiative in 2018 to expand fast charging along key travel corridors, create new charging hubs in major cities and airports, and establish electric vehicle-friendly model communities that will encourage residents to transition to driving electric vehicles.
“Greenlots applauds the New York Power Authority’s continued efforts to create convenient and reliable fast charging to drivers in New York,” said Jeff Tolnar, chief commercial officer at Greenlots, provider of the network software powering the Fairport stations. “This first high-speed charging hub in Monroe County is an important step in increasing accessible transportation electrification throughout New York State. We are proud to be among the selected partners of the EVolve NY initiative.”
“PlugIn Stations is very proud to be helping NYPA build these fast-charge sites across New York State,” said Christopher Carmody, vice president of Business Development, PlugIn Stations, the prime contractor for site engineering , procurement and construction. “This work is critical not only in enabling mass EV adoption, but also in pushing the entire EV charging industry to a higher standard of accessibility and dependability.”
“Building powerful, flexible infrastructure is the key to fast-tracking mass adoption of electric vehicles,” said Bob Stojanovic, director of ABB’s EV Infrastructure business in North America, the hardware provider that produces the chargers. “Installing ABB’s advanced Terra HP high power chargers in communities like Fairport help deliver on the promise of connecting the State of New York’s EV charging network.”
Learn more about how EVolve NY is reshaping travel in New York State here.
Information about the Fairport EVolve NY fast chargers, and others coming online, can be found on PlugShare or by downloading the Chargeway app. To contact a member of the EVolve NY team, email EVolveNY@nypa.gov. Follow EVolve NY’s progress in installing fast chargers across the state on Facebook.
About EVolve NY
EVolve NY is the New York Power Authority’s initiative to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) throughout the state. The program creates private-sector partnerships to expand fast-charging infrastructure and make EVs more user-friendly for all New Yorkers. NYPA is installing fast chargers along major interstate corridors, in five major cities and at New York City airports. EVolve NY supports New York State’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and is a key pillar of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Charge NY 2.0 program to launch 10,000 public EV charging stations by the end of 2021. Follow EVolve NY on Facebook.
New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Plan
Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading climate plan is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State builds back better as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the CLCPA, New York is on a path to reach its mandated goals of a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040m including 70% renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York’s unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including a $3.9 billion investment in 67 large-scale renewable projects across the state, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector, a commitment to develop over 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. New York’s Climate Action Council is working on a scoping plan to build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments benefit disadvantaged communities, and advancing progress towards the state’s 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.
About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.
