Albany, NY - September 6, 2013 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new program under Charge NY to accelerate the market adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and to make EV infrastructure easier to use and more economically viable in New York State. The Electric Vehicle-Enabling Technology Demonstration Program offers a total of $2 million to help fund research and demonstration projects related to electric vehicles.
“Under Charge NY, New York State is making significant investments to improve the development and use of electric vehicles and the necessary technology and infrastructure,” Governor Cuomo said. “This program will focus on furthering research and innovation related to EVs, so that we can make these vehicles more affordable for New Yorkers, promote a cleaner transportation source, and make our infrastructure more efficient, while also creating jobs in the clean energy industry. As we move towards our goal of establishing a statewide network of up to 3,000 EV charging stations over the next five years, we are ensuring that New York State is prepared to welcome the next generation of environmentally-friendly vehicles on our roads.”
The new demonstration program seeks applications from entities such as universities, research centers, and technology-based businesses and manufacturers conducting research in and development of EV technology. The program is funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The program seeks to advance technologies, strategies, business models, behavioral approaches and policy ideas that support the expansion of the EV market and EV industry in New York State. NYSERDA is interested in projects that will study and/or demonstrate existing technologies, or combinations of technologies, and strategies that have not been applied to the market or have not been demonstrated in New York.
Examples of relevant projects include demonstrating EV charging stations sited alongside battery energy storage that reduce the electric grid demands from charging, and feasibility studies of new electric rate structures or other utility incentives to help reduce the cost of EV ownership.
Areas of particular interest are technologies and strategies that can integrate EVs into the electric grid, enable long-distance EV travel, and ease financial and regulatory obstacles to EV adoption. Proposals should focus on research, results or strategies that can be transferred and implemented throughout the state in the near term to advance EV acceptance.
Today, there are approximately 640 public EV charging stations in New York State, with more than 5,000 electric vehicles operating across the state. Most are privately-owned, personal vehicles.
The Governor’s Charge NY initiative aims to create a statewide network of up to 3,000 public and workplace charging stations over the next five years to accommodate an anticipated 40,000 plug-in vehicles on the road. The initiative is being spearheaded by NYSERDA and the New York Power Authority.
NYSERDA has funded 600 charging stations in the past year, including through the Charge NY program. NYSERDA also recently launched the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program, which helps offset the extra cost of purchasing electric trucks and other alternative fuel and emission reduction technologies, when compared to the cost of diesel or gas trucks.
Proposals for the Electric Vehicle-Enabling Technology Demonstration Program are due October 22. For more information on the Electric Vehicle-Enabling Technology Demonstration Program, visit http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/PON2755.