New York, New York – New York has added 70 new electric vehicles to its city fleet and has launched new efforts to inform the public about electric cars.
The new vehicles include 50 Chevrolet Volts, ten Ford Transit Connect electric cargo vans, and ten electric Navistar E-Star utility trucks. The new models bring the city’s total of electric vehicles to 430.
“This is the latest and largest-ever addition of electric vehicles to the city’s fleet, which is already the largest municipal clean-air vehicle fleet in the nation,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “We will continue to lead by example, but we also must provide New Yorkers with tools to make environmentally-friendly choices in their own lives. When provided with the facts, people become far more likely to choose an electric vehicle. Our job is to ensure the public has the facts, ensure they can make their own decisions and ensure that if they want to drive an electric vehicle, we are providing the infrastructure needed. It’s all part of our PlaNYC agenda to create a greener, greater New York City.”
The city’s electric vehicle program is made possible through a partnership with the New York State Power Authority and funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, both of which helped fund a portion of the cost difference between an electric and gas-powered vehicle. The U.S. Department of Energy has provided a grant to charger manufacture Coulomb to provide public charging stations throughout the city.
