Electric Vehicles

The two million light-duty vehicles registered in the city are responsible for the vast majority, approximately 80%, of the city’s transportation emissions. To help meet NYC’s carbon neutrality goals 400,000 vehicle owners will need to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. The City leads the way in the EV transition, with the cleanest and greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country and the largest electric vehicle charging network in New York State.

By 2050, the City aims to have 20% of new vehicle registrations be for electric vehicles. MOCEJ is partnering with the NYC Department of Transportation to install electric vehicle charging stations throughout New York City.

Transitioning to Electric Vehicles

NYC’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) has transitioned nearly 20,000 units (approximately 67% of the City fleet) to alternative fuels, including over 3,000 on- and off-road electric plug-in or solar fleet EVs and 1,060 EV chargers as of September 2021.

In 2021, the City launched a pilot of its first electric school buses and committed to purchasing 75 accessible electric school buses in the next two years. The City also worked with the City Council to codify the requirement of a school bus fleet that is 100% zero emissions electric by 2035.

In July 2021, NYPD and DCAS introduced the City’s first all-electric patrol vehicle. The City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has also been working with industry stakeholders to electrify all licensed vehicles. The first phase of this transition includes the launch of TLC’s first-ever Battery Electric Vehicle Taxi Pilot Program, which provides additional options for drivers to go electric in the NYC Yellow Medallion Taxicab fleet.

Electrifying New York

To enable the charging infrastructure required to accelerate the transition to an electric future, the City developed “Electrifying New York: An Electric Vehicle Vision Plan” that lays out initiatives to dramatically expand access to public chargers across the five boroughs.

This plan leverages government resources to spur private investment, with the goal of creating a network of 40,000 public Level 2 chargers citywide and 6,000 DC Fast Chargers by 2030. The City has already started to build a comprehensive network of public Level 2 and DC fast chargers. By the end of fall 2021, the City installed two fast charging hubs and 86 curbside Level 2 chargers. In partnership with Con Edison, the City is also piloting 120 curbside level two chargers as part of a three-year demonstration project.

Modernizing Freight

In order to green our freight distribution network and reduce our reliance on trucks, the City continues to invest in maritime and rail infrastructure, new distribution facilities, and truck electrification and e-cargo bike initiatives. Together, these investments will eliminate 40 million truck miles and 71,500 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. As of Fall 2021, private partners are using 350 cargo bikes through DOT’s cargo bike program, which encourages the use of bicycles for commercial purposes like last-mile freight delivery. The City’s Clean Truck Program has also administered $24 million in subsidies to encourage freight companies to buy cleaner trucks that service the Hunts Point Market in the Bronx. In summer 2021, the program facilitated the purchase of five fully electric trucks—the program’s first—and is expanding to Industrial Business Zones citywide.

The City also worked with the private sector to better manage our freight system. As of August 2021, over 1,100 buildings and businesses participate in the Off-Hour Deliveries Program, which reduce congestion and idling emissions during peak commuting times. DOT has also installed 111 Neighborhood Loading Zones along 26 corridors citywide to reduce double parking and congestion and reduce pollution. In the first year, double parking on corridors with these zones decreased by as much as 70 percent. Building on this success, the City will double the number of neighborhood loading zones to over 150 locations by the end of 2021. DOT is also surveying fleet operators about green loading zones to plan for curb regulations that incentive low-emission vehicles.