New York State Agencies Form Working Group to Accelerate Clean Vehicle Adoption and Charging Infrastructure Deployment

 

Initiative Builds Upon New York Investments and Complements Ongoing Multi-State Collaboration with U.S. Climate Alliance’s Affordable Clean Car Coalition

New York State announced a new interagency working group focused on the successful implementation of the clean vehicle transition and enhancing existing efforts to build out electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The working group includes representatives from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Power Authority (NYPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Thruway Authority, Empire State Development (ESD), Department of Public Service (DPS), Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Tax and Finance (DTF), and Office of General Services (OGS) which will collaborate with vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders to rapidly accelerate the deployment of charging infrastructure across New York State.

The working group will help address the challenges presented by unprecedented federal actions and the resulting economic uncertainty and ensure that New York remains a leader in the transition to a clean energy economy. Objectives include:

Expanding Charging Infrastructure: 

• Develop a coordinated strategy for the rapid deployment of public and private EV charging infrastructure that can support all vehicle classes, including fast-charging stations along major highways and in underserved communities. Including leveraging the utilization of $1 billion in newly proposed climate funding, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative revenue, and cutting red tape; 
• Evaluate and recommend solutions to ensure grid stability and reliability as EV adoption increases;
• Look to streamline regulatory processes for charging station installation and related infrastructure; and  
• Coordinate between all agencies to maximize usage of state-owned property for charging station installment. 
  

 Increasing Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Adoption: 

• Identify and recommend strategies to increase the market availability of ZEVs, including passenger vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles; 
• Evaluate enhancing and expanding financial incentive programs to make ZEVs more affordable for consumers and businesses;
• Recommend how to increase public awareness regarding the cost saving benefits of EV ownership and addressing range anxiety; and 
• Support fleets in creating plans to aid in the transition of commercial vehicles to ZEVs. 
  

 Supporting Industry Transition: 

• Develop programs to support the transition of the transportation industry to ZEVs, including providing technical assistance and financial incentives;
• Work with manufacturers and suppliers to increase the production and availability of ZEVs and charging equipment in New York State;
• Evaluate current programs that educate and train the workforce for ZEV-related jobs; and 
• Analyze any supply chain issues including the supply chain of critical minerals and battery production as well as recommend policies that strengthen domestic manufacturing of ZEV components. 
  

The creation of the working group follows multiple actions New York and other states that adopted California’s clean vehicle standards are implementing to increase charging infrastructure, incentivize EV purchases, and address recent supply chain and other production challenges driven by the instability of recent federal policies and pronouncements.

Last week, DEC issued additional enforcement discretions to vehicle manufacturers working to comply with New York’s clean vehicle requirements, New York also joined 10 other states as part of the U.S. Climate Alliance’s launch of the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition (ACCC). ACCC will sustain America’s transition to cleaner and more affordable cars, support U.S. automotive manufacturers and workers, and preserve states’ clean air authority. Alongside the launch, the Alliance announced the availability of resources to help states tackle vehicle pollution and lower barriers for consumers to more affordably own, drive, charge, and maintain cleaner cars.

State Investments in Electric Vehicles 

To date, New York State’s nearly $3 billion investment in electrifying its transportation sector has supported a range of initiatives aimed to increase access to EVs and charging while improving air quality and health outcomes for all New Yorkers. These programs include EV Make Ready, EVolve NY, Charge Ready NY 2.0, the Drive Clean Rebate, the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program, the New York School Bus Incentive Program, the Direct Current Fast Charger program, and the Municipal ZEV and ZEV Infrastructure grant programs.  

To incentivize new ZEV purchases, Governor Hochul recently announced $30 million now available for consumers to lease or purchase new EVs in New York through the State’s Drive Clean Rebate program, which provides point-of-sale rebates for more than 60 new EV models. This program has issued more than 190,000 rebates to consumers since 2017, contributing to the more than 280,000 EVs on the road statewide.