New York City’s 58 new fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will charge city fleet vehicles seven times as quickly as regular chargers and allow for 120 miles of driving on a one-hour charge, the city’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Lisette Camilo announced. This year, the city fleet will have at least 100 fast-charging stations in operation.

Faster charging will enable DCAS to phase out more gas-powered vehicles and replace them with electric vehicles to help meet Mayor Bill de Blasio’s goal of a fully-electric vehicle fleet by 2040. The city currently has more than 2,700 electric vehicles in its fleet that have already replaced traditional gas-powered models. DCAS is in the process of bidding additional electric vehicle contracts for fleet vehicles used in government operations, including electric garbage trucks for the Department of Parks and Recreation, electric vans, and electric pickup trucks. These new units will rely on the fast-charging network. 

In addition to the chargers’ use for city fleet vehicles, at least five stations will also be available for use by the public by June. The city currently has more than 1,000 EV charging ports, including 87 solar mobile carports that can charge vehicles using sunlight.

“Thanks to Mayor de Blasio, NYC Fleet is on its way to an all-electric future by 2040,” said, Keith Kerman, NYC chief fleet officer and DCAS deputy commissioner. “Fast charging is critical to support the expansion of plug-in technology to the city’s fleet of vans, pickups, and public works trucks that support critical public services every day. This new clean charging infrastructure paves the way for the fleet of tomorrow.” 

To date, DCAS has replaced 2,200 gas-powered on-road fleet vehicles with plug-in electric models. The city also operates over 500 off-road electric and solar units. Through electric vehicles, hybrids, and other efficiencies, DCAS has reduced total fuel use by over 2.8 million gallons over the last three years. The benefits of an electric fleet are not only greener, but economical as well. Compared to gas-powered vehicles, the all-electric sedan costs 65% less to maintain, saving over $550 per year for each vehicle. 

In addition to ongoing investments in green technologies to reduce emissions, in March 2019 Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order to reduce the size of the city’s on-road vehicle fleet by March 2021. The city is on target to meet and exceed this goal.