New York City is moving forward with a major expansion of its urban electric vehicle infrastructure, aiming to grow its existing roster of curbside charging points to nearly 700 over the next three years. The initiative, part of the city's PlugNYC network, builds upon an initial pilot program launched in 2021 in partnership with Con Edison and electric vehicle charging startup FLO.
On August 4, the New York City Department of Transportation announced plans to add 600 new curbside charging points across all five boroughs, expanding from the current 88 Level 2 charging points that have seen high utilization rates throughout the city. According to city data, the pilot chargers have experienced heavy demand, remaining occupied by electric vehicles over 70% of the time—and up to 99% at certain locations—while actively delivering energy over 85% of the time they are occupied.
Following that announcement, the City of New York and the New York Power Authority officially selected Brooklyn-based curbside charging startup it's electric on September 15 to supply the hardware for the permanent network. The rollout will replace the city's existing pilot infrastructure and bring Level 2 chargers to all five boroughs over a three-year period as part of a $60.2 million contract covering both installation and five years of operation.
Supporting New York's Climate and Transportation Goals
The municipal buildout is closely tied to New York's broader climate and transportation goals. Specifically, the network supports the city's Green Rides Initiative, which mandates that all rideshare vehicles licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission must be zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible alternatives by 2030. City officials and company representatives note that placing reliable curbside infrastructure directly in residential neighborhoods will directly benefit rideshare and taxi drivers who frequently struggle with off-street parking and the scarcity of fast-charging options.
“Without curbside charging in neighborhoods like Jackson Heights or Flushing or the Bronx, they are being forced to drive to a limited amount of fast charging stations, wait in long lines, … pay 50 cents per kilowatt hour, and then drive two hours back into Manhattan,” said Tiya Gordon, co-founder and COO of it's electric, highlighting the advantage of overnight neighborhood charging.
Local Manufacturing and Multimodal Infrastructure
The physical infrastructure is also designed to keep manufacturing and supply chains local. The chargers deployed across the city's streets will be designed by it's electric—headquartered at Newlab in the Brooklyn Navy Yard—and manufactured locally in Queens by Boyce Technologies.
Pricing structures for the new network have not yet been finalized, but the New York City Department of Transportation will retain control over user fees. According to municipal announcements, billing will occur per kilowatt-hour through multiple apps or via contactless credit card tapping, with rates structured to maintain affordability while encouraging reasonable vehicle turnover once charging sessions are complete. Where feasible, the new installation sites will also incorporate electrical connections to support e-bike charging, electrified bike-share docks, secure bike parking, or cargo-bike hubs.
