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Electric Vehicles (EVs) Driving Change in NY: August Sustainability Tip from Livingston Energy Group

New York travelers are getting back on the road again – and they're in Electric Vehicles (EVs)! Forecasts show that in the United States 30% of the vehicles on the road will be Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) by 2030. According to the Fuels Institute, EV trips are mostly planned with charging locations in mind.

How many EVs on the Road? What's the road ahead?

Atlas Public Policy reported that as of July, there were nearly 110,000 EVs registered in New York State. The growth in EV registrations across the state has increased about 3.5% over the previous report. As new vehicle options arrive on the market including several new models of EV trucks and family-friendly SUVs more consumers are expected to trade their gas vehicles for their more efficient plug-in counterpart. Combined with Governor Kathy Hochul's legislation that would effectively ban sales of new, internal combustion engine cars and trucks in the Empire state by 2035, the road ahead in New York is looking greener.

Where do EV drivers charge?

The majority of people who drive electric vehicles charge them at home. When EV drivers are away from home or traveling further than their vehicle's battery range, they look for public locations to charge their vehicle that optimize their dwell time.

Dwell time?

Dwell time is the time that a car is not in use. Unlike traditional gas vehicles where you fill up your tank when you run low on fuel, EV drivers optimize the time when they are not using the vehicle to charge the battery. Hotels, theme parks, museums, restaurants, shopping centers, concert venues, downtown areas and recreational facilities are some examples of places where cars are idle while their drivers are out spending their time and their money nearby. The 2021 Fuels Institute EV Consumer Behavior report notes that offering free EV charging while shopping increased dwell time. Kohls department store reported that EV owners spent about $1 per minute within an hour window when they provided free EV charging.

Did you know that New York has incentives to cover costs of EV charging infrastructure?

New York is one of the nation's leaders in progressing EV adoption. Currently, there are grants and incentive opportunities that most businesses can qualify for to help offset the cost of EV charging equipment and installation if you know where to look.

Ready to Learn More?

Join Livingston Energy Group for NYSTIA's first Wednesday Workshop on September 14th 9:15AM - 9:45AM! Our team and community partners will get you up to speed on the basic of EVs and charging solutions and help you understand what you need to know to get started on a successful EV charging project.

To include: EV 101, charging station types, funding opportunities, best practices for utilization and more!

EV Curious? Join us at the Capital District's Drive Electric Week & Sustainability Fair!

Sunday, September 25 th
10 AM – 2 PM
Schenectady City Hall (on Liberty Street) during Schenectady Greenmarket More information & registration – Event is Free & Open to the Public

Livingston Energy Group has partnered with the City of Schenectady, The Schenectady Greenmarket and the Capital District EV Drivers Group to bring National Drive Electric Week to the Electric City!

The goal of National Drive Electric Week is to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. EV owners from across the Northeast have registered nearly 40 of their personal vehicles to display. The event will also feature ride and drive opportunities with the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), and Nemer Volkswagen. The event will also have a spotlight on schools showcasing Bethlehem Central School District's ZEV Matthews Bus, Hudson Valley Community College's new Green Tech Program, and high school sustainability clubs from throughout the area. Solar Sal, a 100% electric solar-powered boat, will also be on display at the event.

Submitted by NYSTIA Sustainability Task Force Member

Kate Kruk, Community Engagement Leader, Livingston Energy Group

Livingston offers turnkey project solutions including a full suite of services and equipment across North America for the installation and management of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and the required infrastructure. We support facility managers, fleet operators, utilities, municipalities, and commercial properties in establishing private and public EV charging solutions. Our array of Level 2 and DCFC (L3) charging equipment, custom software, funding solutions, and project experts are ready to help you meet the needs associated with the increase in electric transportation.