NY Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week that 325 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will be rolled out across New York State. The initiative, which awarded $4.4 million to ten companies and cities, is a joint effort between the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. As electric vehicles continue to gain popularity and become even more aesthetically pleasing and functional, the increased availability of charging stations should help EVs gain consumer acceptance throughout New York, according to Inhabitat.
While global oil prices have declined in recent weeks, energy prices are sure to spike again in the near future, and those sharp increases are especially notable within New York's transportation sector. Transport consumes almost 75 percent of New York's petroleum consumption and contributes almost 40 percent of the state's greenhouse gas emissions. According to Cuomo, the development of an infrastructure for EVs could help boost economic development, create jobs and reduce New Yorkers' carbon footprint.
The Department of Energy recently rewarded NYSERDA with a $1 million grant on behalf of its Transportation and Climate Initiative, a program that aims to reduce greenhouse gasses from the transportation sector across the U.S. northeast. NYSERDA is also working with businesses to help increase the demand for EV commercial trucks. The agency manages a $10 million fund that offers vouchers of up to $20,000 a vehicle for the purchase of EV commercial trucks. With more consumers and companies recognizing the benefits that EVs provide, the days of your meal delivery or prescription arriving via an EV are not that far off.
Read more about going green and sustainability trends.
User Comments