Despite its place as the most populous city in the United States, New York City drags behind other major metropolitan areas in the number of zero-emission vehicles on the street, at less than 1% of cars.
NYN Media writes that this is because of the city’s density. In multi-family housing, tenants don’t have garages, which makes owning personal EV chargers in New York City a challenge. Pole-mounted chargers, like those recently installed in Melrose, MA, may not be as ideal in NYC – EV charging infrastructure is what the city needs.
In an effort to support these infrastructure goals, the Department of Transportation and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability are building out a network of 120 curbside charging stations.
Making electric vehicle charging more accessible in New York City may aid congestion and in turn, air pollution. EVs provide an alternative mode of transportation that supports a clean environment. The city could see a reduction in emissions, particularly in high-traffic areas.
Publicly accessible charging infrastructure is needed in NYC to encourage EV adoption. Chargers should be equally distributed throughout the city and provide access for commercial and freight vehicles in addition to personal cars. Certain communities with greater levels of pollution may benefit most from charging stations, addressing both environmental and health equity issues from planning decisions made decades ago. Along with an infrastructure buildout, “a public education and enforcement strategy that communicates the benefits of the chargers and the importance of not misusing this infrastructure” would support NYC EV adoption.
