State Encourages Electric Cars

A statewide initiative has begun to encourage the use of electric vehicles and increase charging hubs. The initiative includes additional public fast-charger networks across the state,  regulatory actions to lower residential charging rates, and rebates of up to $2,000 for the purchase or lease of a new electric car from a participating dealer. 

High speed charging hubs will be installed along major traffic corridors as well as the John F. Kennedy Airport taxi-hold lot. Two fast chargers also will be installed in Islip and Freeport. The chargers will give travelers between Montauk and New York City the ability to charge their cars in fewer than 20 minutes. Construction of the fast chargers is to begin in the spring. 

The Public Service Commission has also acted to allow residents options to charge  vehicles during off-peak times for standard rates. 

Through its Drive Clean Rebate, over 40 different electric car models are available under the rebate program with more than $15 million already approved in rebates for New Yorkers. 

 State Assemblyman Michael Cusick, the chairman of the Committee on Energy, said in a release, “Less than 2 percent of cars sold in the United States last year were electric. It’s important for government to lay the foundation for future success in this sector in an effort to reduce pollution and spur investment.” 

The  initiative will help reach Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s clean energy and climate goals and the state’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030.