New York City will install 600 new curbside electric vehicle (EV) charging points over the next three years, considerably boosting its public charging infrastructure. This expansion will raise the total number of curbside Level 2 chargers from 88 to nearly 700 across all five boroughs, supporting the city’s goals to accelerate EV adoption.
The rollout targets densely populated neighborhoods with scarce off-street parking options and areas where many taxi and rideshare drivers reside. Given that about half of New York’s car owners park on the street, increasing accessible charging is crucial to easing EV ownership in the city. Currently, demand for existing chargers is high, with occupancy rates exceeding 70% and some stations nearly at full capacity.
The first proposed installations are planned in diverse neighborhoods including the Bronx’s Soundview and Unionport; Queens’ Rego Park, Forest Hills, and Far Rockaway; Brooklyn’s Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, and Bedford-Stuyvesant; Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Washington Heights; and Staten Island’s Stapleton. Additional locations will be added later following resident feedback through an online city portal.
Each charging station will feature a minimum of two posts, each with two charging points, providing at least four chargers per site. Parking spaces at these stations will be reserved exclusively for actively charging EVs to improve turnover. Drivers can pay using credit cards or designated apps. While pricing per kilowatt-hour has not been finalized, the city intends to keep costs affordable and encourage prompt departure once charging completes.
The New York Power Authority will manage equipment procurement and construction, while the Department of Transportation will oversee operations and maintenance. The city also plans to support expanded electric micromobility infrastructure by installing electrical connections for e-bike charging cabinets, electrified bike-share docks, cargo bike charging, and secure bike parking where possible.
This “dig once” strategy aims to minimize repeated curb disruptions by integrating multiple electrical upgrades simultaneously. NYC’s EV market continues to grow, with electric vehicles accounting for over eight percent of new registrations and taxi and rideshare drivers logging approximately three million electric rides each month.
The initiative aligns with New York City’s broader transportation policy to make walking, biking, and transit more accessible while facilitating the transition to electric vehicles for those who still drive.