NYC DOT Launches Expansion of Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Across Five Boroughs, Solicits Public Feedback on Locations

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2026
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NYC DOT Launches Expansion of Curbside Electric Vehicle Charging Across Five Boroughs, Solicits Public Feedback on Locations

Agency will add 600 new charging points in high-density neighborhoods that lack access, with concentration of TLC drivers

New Yorkers can provide feedback on potential new charging sites online

A car plugged into a curbside electric vehicle charger in the Bronx. Credit: NYC DOT

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the launch of a new public online portal for New Yorkers to provide feedback on a major expansion of curbside electric vehicle (EV) charging. The expansion, part of NYC DOT's PlugNYC charging network, will add 600 new curbside charging points over the next three years across all five boroughs, expanding from the current 88 Level 2 charging points that are heavily used across the city to nearly 700. The expansion will help support the city's ambitious climate goals by facilitating the transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. The transportation sector is one of the top contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in New York City. As part of the Mamdani administration's vision for curb management that uses curb space to meet a wider range of public needs, the stations will also include "dig once" electrical connections for other uses where feasible, like e-bike battery charging.

"The Mamdani administration is taking aggressive action to address the climate crisis and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For the transportation sector, our main goal is making it easier and more affordable for New Yorkers to walk, bike, and take transit," said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. "But for those who still drive, we need to dramatically accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. This initiative will make charging more affordable and convenient, helping support the transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles and expand charging access to TLC-licensed drivers and residents of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods underserved by private charging options."

"The expansion of electric vehicle charging makes the transition to clean transportation more practical and accessible for New Yorkers. Passenger vehicles, including for-hire vehicles, account for 17% of New York City's greenhouse gas emissions, making vehicle electrification a critical part of achieving our climate goals," said NYC Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. "By bringing curbside charging to neighborhoods that are home to many TLC-licensed drivers, we're reducing barriers to electric vehicle adoption while helping build a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable city."

"These new chargers will be warmly welcomed by the tens of thousands of TLC drivers who are now conducting 3 million EV trips a month, as well as those who are eager to go electric and spare themselves some pain at the pump," said NYC Taxi & Limousine Commissioner Midori Valdivia. "Being able to charge in the neighborhoods where they work and live not only saves our drivers time and money, but it also contributes to a cleaner, more sustainable future for everyone in our city."

NYC DOT plans to install the new chargers over the next three years, in select neighborhoods based on high residential density, limited off-street parking, and a high concentration of TLC-licensed drivers, as well as input from TLC drivers themselves, starting with: Soundview and Unionport, in the Bronx; Rego Park, Forest Hills, and Far Rockaway, in Queens; Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, and Bedford-Stuyvesant, in Brooklyn; the Upper West Side and Washington Heights, in Manhattan; and Stapleton, on Staten Island, with more to come.

The expansion also seeks to provide access to public charging in low- and moderate-income communities where private charging companies have made few investments.

Public engagement, design, and construction will be rolling, and the public can comment on initial proposed sites at NYC DOT's project portal, located at on.nyc.gov/plugnyc-expansion.

Each station will feature at least two charger posts, each with two charging points, for a total of four points per site. All stations will feature the PlugNYC brand. Where feasible, stations will also provide an electrical connection to support e-micromobility charging, such as electrified bikeshare docks, public e-bike charging cabinets, secure bike parking with charging, or cargo bike charging for microhubs. Site selection will be closely coordinated with the agency's pedestrian, bike, public realm and bus projects to ensure future flexibility.

New York City launched a successful curbside L2 charging pilot in 2021 in partnership with Con Edison and has been operating this network of public L2 charging points since the end of the pilot in 2025. These existing curbside chargers, located in neighborhoods across the city, are immensely popular with EV owners: these 88 charging points are occupied by an EV over 70% of the time, in some cases close to 99% of the time, and actively delivering energy over 85% of the time they are occupied-the highest rate of utilization of any public curbside network in the country. Utilization is high across all neighborhood income levels, and four of the five highest utilized stations are in zip codes with high concentrations of TLC drivers, in Upper Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens.

EVs now account for 8.3% of new vehicle registrations in New York City, but to drive EV adoption higher will require addressing the city's unique charging challenges. In typical American cities, most EV owners can charge in their own driveway or garage, but in New York, a high proportion of residents live in apartments or homes without off-street parking, and half of all car owners rely on street parking. Expanding public charging is therefore critical to unlocking greater EV adoption.

To address this gap as well as to support the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission's Green Rides initiative, NYC DOT is making major investments in fast charging and level 2 (L2) charging across the five boroughs, including this expansion of 600 curbside charging points, as well as 92 new fast charging points and 180 new L2 charging points at its City-owned Municipal Parking Fields and Municipal Parking Garages, with construction already underway or completed at many of those locations.

To install the new curbside charge points, NYC DOT will contract with the New York Power Authority, which is procuring the equipment and construction subcontractors best able to meet NYC DOT's needs. NYC DOT will operate and maintain the new chargers as well as the existing charging stations from the pilot via contract, with control over the to-be-determined price charged to EV owners. Pricing will focus on affordability while encouraging reasonable turnover, and revenue received from customer fees will defray operating costs. Drivers will be able to use multiple apps or tap their credit card to pay per kilowatt hour of energy dispensed. Only EVs that are plugged in can legally park at a curbside EV charging station, and vehicles parked in these spaces and not connected to the charging station are subject to enforcement.

"Con Edison supports New York City's efforts to expand EV curbside charging to better connect more communities to the clean energy solutions they need and want," said Con Edison Vice President of Distributed Resources Integration Raghu Sudhakara. "This program will place chargers in neighborhoods where many rideshare drivers and other EV owners live and work and will give them more reliable access while helping move the city toward cleaner transportation and improved air quality."

"Despite the climate-denying rhetoric at the federal level, electric vehicles are the way of the future," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "This technology is a critical way of making our environment greener and more sustainable as we reduce our carbon footprint and reliance on polluting fossil fuels. I encourage all of our neighbors to make their voices heard and help inform our expansion of our city's curbside electric vehicle charging capacity."

"I'm elated NYC DOT is launching a new online portal so Manhattanites can weigh in on a major expansion of curbside EV charging across the borough. I especially encourage Upper West Siders to make their voices heard - this first phase will bring a significant increase in chargers to the neighborhood," said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. "Building out clean energy infrastructure isn't optional, it's essential to tackling the climate crisis head-on. I'm grateful to Commissioner Flynn for keeping climate action at the forefront of Manhattan's transit strategy, and look forward to additional expansions of the city's EV charging network in the years to come."

"Meeting our climate goals means building infrastructure that works for everyday New Yorkers. Expanding curbside EV charging in Queens makes clean transportation more practical for residents, taxi and rideshare drivers, and small businesses while reducing emissions and improving local air quality," said State Senator Jessica Ramos. "The clean energy transition succeeds when it is convenient, equitable, and creates healthier neighborhoods for the people who live and work here. This is the kind of investment that moves New York forward."

"Expanding access to curbside electric vehicle charging is an important investment in the future of Washington Heights. Many of our residents, including hardworking TLC drivers, live in apartment buildings and rely on street parking, making at-home charging inaccessible," said State Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos. "This expansion will provide our community with reliable charging options while reducing emissions and supporting a healthier, more sustainable city. I thank Commissioner Flynn and the New York City Department of Transportation for prioritizing public input, and I encourage our residents to share their feedback."

"Expanding access to convenient and reliable public charging is an important step toward making electric vehicles a practical option for more New Yorkers, particularly those who do not have access to private driveways or garages," said City Council Member James F. Gennaro, Chair of the New York City Council's Committee on Environmental Protection & Waterfronts. "By building out our charging infrastructure, we can encourage greater EV adoption, reduce harmful emissions, improve air quality, and continue moving New York City toward a greener future. I am pleased to see this investment reaching communities across all five boroughs, including right here in Queens!"

"The Upper West Side was part of the City's curbside EV charging pilot, and we've seen firsthand how much demand there is for these stations," said City Council Member Gale A. Brewer. "My office regularly hears from constituents asking for more places to charge, so this expansion is welcome news. Expanding access to EV charging is one practical way to reduce emissions and improve air quality while giving more New Yorkers the option to choose an electric vehicle. We also need to keep these spaces available for charging, not general parking, so drivers can rely on them when they need them."

"Expanding curbside electric vehicle charging will help make our air cleaner for every New Yorker," said City Council Member Shahana Hanif. "I commend the DOT's work to expand EV charging for constituents who live and work in Carroll Gardens, consider the needs of TLC-licensed drivers, and include public input in this expansion. Expanding curbside charging to meet the demand and grow EV adoption will make our city a better place to live, work, and breathe."

"Expanding access to curbside charging is about more than supporting electric vehicles-it's about ensuring every New Yorker can benefit from cleaner air and cleaner transportation," said Empire Clean Cities Executive Director Joy Gardner. "By bringing charging infrastructure closer to where people live and work, New York City is making the transition to zero-emission transportation more practical, equitable, and accessible for residents, fleets, and professional drivers across all five boroughs.

"Expanding access to clean transportation is essential to achieving New York City's climate goals, and building a more robust public EV charging network is an important step in that transition. We applaud NYCDOT for inviting public input because communities should have a voice in how their streets and curb space are designed," said Tri-State Transportation Campaign Executive Director Renae Reynolds. "At the same time, this is an opportunity to think beyond EV charging alone. As curb space evolves, it should support the full range of sustainable transportation needs-including EV charging, e-bike charging, cargo bike loading, safer bus operations, and accessible public space. A balanced approach to curb management will help create streets that are cleaner, safer, and more efficient while giving New Yorkers more choice in how they travel."

"Making it easier for New Yorkers to charge electric vehicles is essential to reducing pollution, improving air quality, and meeting our climate goals. Expanding curbside charging to neighborhoods across all five boroughs - especially communities where private investment has fallen behind - will make electric vehicles a more practical option for more New Yorkers," said New York League of Conservation Voters Policy Director Patrick McClellan. "We applaud the New York City Department of Transportation for opening the process up for public input and Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Flynn for their commitment to advancing a smarter, more equitable charging network to help power the city's clean transportation future."