Governor Hochul Announces Milestone of More Than 100 Evolve NY Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers Installed

 Latest Chargers Expand EV Infrastructure on Long Island, Home to Nearly 30 Percent of New York State's EV Owners

View Video Celebrating New York's Clean Transportation Milestone Here and Long Island Site Photos Here

View a Map of EVolve NY Charging Stations Here

 To round out Climate Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than 100 high-speed chargers have been installed across the state as part of the New York Power Authority's EVolve NY fast charging network for electric vehicles. The latest direct current fast chargers installed in downtown Riverhead and Commack in Suffolk County mark the EVolve NY network's first fast charging hubs on Long Island, where nearly 30 percent of New York State's electric vehicle owners live. An additional fast charging station in Bridgehampton will be completed in October.  

"With over 100 Evolve NY high-speed chargers across the state, New York has cemented itself as a leader in advancing clean transportation and curbing emissions from the transportation sector - the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation," Governor Hochul said. "The latest three chargers coming to Long Island, which has more EV drivers than anywhere else in the state, mark our progress in building the necessary infrastructure to support our transition to electric vehicles in the battle against climate change." 

New York Power Authority's (NYPA) EVolve NY high-speed, open-access charging network has installed fast chargers in key locations along primary travel corridors and in urban areas to make it easier for more New Yorkers to drive EVs. Any battery-powered EV can charge up at an EVolve NY site in as little as 20 minutes. EVs offer a cleaner mode of transportation that helps offset the emissions from gas-fueled vehicles and helps advance New York's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goal of reducing carbon emissions 85 percent by 2050. 

Three New Long Island Sites Expand Fast Charging Network 

According to EvaluateNY, Long Island accounts for almost 30 percent of New York's EV ownership with 32,090 vehicles on the road, a higher percentage than any other region of the state. More than 26 percent of the current public and private 1,020 DCFC fast charger ports in the state are sited on Long Island. EVolve NY's expansion onto Long Island will provide even greater access to EV charging for Long Island residents. 

EVolve NY chargers are now operational at a shopping center at 656 Commack Road in Commack and a municipal-owned parking lot at 209 East Ave. in Riverhead. Chargers at a Bridgehampton municipal lot at 99 School Street are expected to open in late October. A total of 140 EVolve NY fast chargers are expected to be available across the state by the end of the year. 

The four direct current fast chargers (DCFC) located in both Riverhead and Commack can charge any make or model of EV to 80 percent in as little as 20 minutes. The charging stations are equipped with fast-charging connectors that enable all electric vehicles, including Tesla cars with an adapter, to plug in. The Riverhead and Commack fast charger blocks are powered by PSEG Long Island, on behalf of the Long Island Power Authority. Riverhead also has four public Level 2 chargers, which can be used for charging during a longer stop. The Commack chargers are the first fast or Level 2 chargers in the hamlet. 

The installation of the Riverhead chargers—located downtown at 209 East Avenue—is a site identified through the Department of State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The program builds on public and private investments to create vibrant downtown business districts. Riverhead is one of six cities deploying EVolve NY chargers in concert with the DRI program to make EV driving a more accessible option for more local residents and all New Yorkers while also supporting economic development in downtowns across the state. The multi-agency program, dubbed DRIve EV Downtown, includes other DRI locations that have installed EV fast charging, including in Amsterdam (Montgomery County), Geneva (Ontario County), Middletown (Orange County in the Hudson Valley), Utica (Oneida County), and Oswego (Oswego County).