Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in the Region

Where are the local charging stations?

• Charging station counts, locations, and details such as level of charger, public or private access, payment method, and more are available on NYSERDA.gov (https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Drive-Clean-Rebate-For-Electric-Cars-Program/Charging-Options/Electric-Vehicle-Station-Locator#/analyze?region=US-NY&fuel=ELEC)

• In New York, 3,151 public charging station locations accommodate 8,726 EVSE ports.

What is an Alternative Fuel Corridor?

• The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) designates alternative fuel corridors and defines them as highways that are friendly to alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). These corridors are designed to provide AFV drivers with a network of places to refuel or recharge their vehicles while traveling long distances.

Are there any local Alternative Fuel Corridors?

• The I-90 and I-190 corridors in New York state are designated electric vehicle (EV) charging corridors by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This means that EV charging stations are located along these highways, providing drivers of electric vehicles with a network of places to recharge their vehicles while on long-distance trips.

• The I-90 corridor runs from the Pennsylvania border to the Massachusetts border, passing through the Buffalo and Rochester areas. The I-190 corridor is a shorter route that connects the Niagara Falls area with the Buffalo area. Both corridors are important transportation routes in western New York.

How do agencies plan for charging stations?

• EV charging stations should be coordinated with various stakeholders such as city departments, utilities, Clean Cities Coalition, local businesses such as building developers or car dealerships, environmental and sustainability groups, and underserved community representatives.

• Implementing charging stations at home, work, or public destinations offers consumers the most flexible charging opportunities.

• There are a variety of best practices established to aid in the planning for EV chargers:

  • https://www.transportation.gov/rural/ev/toolkit/planning-resources

  • https://www.gsa.gov/buy-through-us/products-services/transportation-logistics-services/fleet-management/fleet-electrification/electric-vehicle-charging-stations

  • https://afdc.energy.gov/pev-readiness.html

Sustainability

• Air Quality & Pollutants

  • AEVs produce zero direct tailpipe emissions, unlike conventional ICE-powered vehicles.

  • Well-to-wheel emissions include fuel production, processing, distribution, and use emissions. These EV emissions depend on how the electricity they use is produced locally. For example, electricity produced by renewable resources such as wind, solar, or hydropower will result in fewer pollutants than electricity produced by natural gas or coal.

• GHG Emissions

  • EVs produce fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when compared to traditional ICE-powered vehicles. As a result, most EVs are considered zero- or low-emission vehicles.

• Battery Life Cycle & Disposal

  • Batteries typically account for 30 to 40 percent of the value of an electric vehicle.

    • The United States is responsible for only 10 percent of EV production and 7 percent of battery production capacity worldwide.

    • EV adoption and commitment to zero-emission vehicles have ramped up in recent years. As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the United States aims to increase its EV and battery production share. This comes from nearly $7 billion committed to the Department of Energy for battery production, recycling, and research.

  • Most AEVs and PHEVs use lithium-ion batteries. Ongoing research aims to reduce cost, extend useful life, and develop battery recycling solutions.

    • https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_batteries.html

  • Recycling batteries would prevent hazardous materials from entering the waste stream and reintroduce critical materials into the supply chain, which remains a challenge for current battery manufacturers.

    • Since many AEVs are new to the U.S. auto market, only some have reached the end of their useful lives. However, as AEVs become more popular, the battery recycling market may evolve to accommodate the growing need to recycle batteries.

Public/Private Partnerships (Shared infrastructure)

• Public agencies and private companies are increasingly collaborating to advance electric vehicle adoption and deploy charging technologies. Private companies are frequently permitted to install equipment on public right-of-way. However, specific consideration should be given to who oversees maintenance and troubleshooting, and agreements should be made ahead of time regarding who will be responsible for each aspect of the charger deployment. Here are a few specific examples of public-private partnerships:

  • Clean Cities Coalition Network: involve automotive businesses and dealerships, fuel and charging system providers, vehicle fleet owners and operators, state and local government agencies, community organizations, and non-profits.

  • Clean Communities of Western New York: As part of the Clean Cities Coalition Network and within the Buffalo region, the organization works “with vehicle fleets, fuel providers, community leaders, and other stakeholders to save energy and promote the use of domestic fuels and advance vehicle technologies in transportation.”

How will Electric Vehicles affect Freight and goods movement?

• Fleet electrification provides many benefits consistent with passenger EVs – Lower fuel costs, less noise, reduced maintenance, and flexibility in charging.

• EVs also achieve their best fuel economy during stop-and-go situations (no idling energy waste), which is a significant part of fleet delivery (https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_fleets.html)