2024 EV UPDATE
The considerable growth of electric vehicles (EV) on the road in the Hudson Valley, and the need for infrastructure to charge them, inspired Pattern’s 2022 study “Electric Vehicle Charging in the Hudson Valley.” This report provides an update to some of the essential data from the study, showing the growth of EV ownership in New York, the Hudson Valley, and parts of the New York City metro area.
There were more than 70,000 fully electric vehicles owned by New Yorkers at the end of 2022, according to data collected by the state. Approximately 14 months later, that number has risen by 76% to approximately 123,000 EVs on the road. Data show that EVs have made up an increasingly large portion of the market for new-car buyers in the past year. In 2022, about 5% of new cars purchased in New York were EVs. That number increased to approximately 8 percent – 1 in every 12 new cars purchased – being fully electric in 2023. (See the chart below.) The total increase in EVs on the road in New York was likely also influenced by a growing used-car market for electric vehicles. Expiring leases and other factors have created a bigger used-car market for EVs, which has brough the price of them into reach for more New Yorkers who would like to own them.
The Hudson Valley has contributed significantly to the statewide growth in EV ownership. This graphic shows the number of EVs owned in each region when now, and when Pattern’s original study was published in 2022. The Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island have all seen EV ownership increase by more than 8,000 passenger vehicles.
Pattern’s 2022 study examined the need for public EV charging infrastructure throughout the region. As the number of EVs in our region has increased, so have the number of public charging stations. In September 2022, there were a total of 349 charging stations in the Hudson Valley, and that number has increased as of March 2024 to include 539 stations throughout the region. Pattern also examined the total number of ports, or plugs, that are included at the charging stations in the region. In all but two counties, the ratio of EVs to charging ports decreased, indicating a broader availability of charging that is in line with the growth of EV ownership.
Nationally, 2023 proved to be a remarkable year for EV growth. It was the first year that more than 1 million EVs were sold throughout the United States.
The move to electrify transportation, however, has been met with practical and political impasses. Some car makers, such as Ford and General Motors, are pulling back their pace of investment into EVs as they experience consumer hesitation. Following this hesitation, on March 20, 2024, the Biden Administration announced the strongest new tailpipe rules for passenger cars and trucks that will push the U.S. auto market toward electric vehicles and hybrids. EVs comprised 7.6% of total U.S. car sales in 2023, but that number would need to rise to 56% in 2032 to meet the target in the new regulation. In a concession to automakers and labor unions, the rules will be phased in more slowly than originally proposed and will give automakers more choices for how to comply. The new regulation does not require carmakers to phase out gas-powered vehicles. Rather, it requires automobile companies to meet tough new average emissions limits across their entire product line, which will force them to produce more EV and hybrid vehicles.
BEST PRACTICES and POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Pattern’s work on this topic has focused specifically on public EV charging infrastructure and the most essential steps that Hudson Valley communities must take to prepare for the shift toward a greater quantity of electric cars. As the number of EVs driving through the region continues to rise, civic leaders in the Hudson Valley should continue to focus on the following strategies and recommendations.
STRATEGIC PLACEMENT OF CHARGING STATIONS
The smart and strategic placement of EV charging stations is important. Charging infrastructure should be installed at locations that are convenient for the traveling public, but also at locations where people can support the local economy while then spend 20-30 charging their vehicles. Communities throughout the Hudson Valley should continue to seek funding through state and federal programs to Level 3 charging stations near highway corridors. Cities, villages and hamlets in the region should also push to have these charging stations located in municipal parking lots to draw EV drivers into our downtowns to patronize local businesses while they are charging.
FUTURE PROOFING FOR QUANTITY
We know that the quantity of EV charging plugs will need to increase as more and more people own electric cars. That means we should future-proof our installations to allow for expansion. This could be as simple as installing a few extra concrete pads, or working with the electric utility to install the infrastructure that is needed for additional chargers, rather than opening the ground and installing additional conduit and wires in a few years.
REQUIRE EV CHARGING ALLOTMENTS in MULTI-FAMILY ZONING CODES
For people who own EVs, the vast majority of charging happens at home. But what happens when you live in a multi-family setting, such as an apartment building, and do not have the authority to install your own charging station? This challenge stands as a significant impediment to EV adoption for many people throughout the Hudson Valley, especially those who live in our cities and villages. Local governments can do something to help.
Communities in many states are now changing their zoning codes to require that multi-family developments include EV chargers at a certain proportion of their parking spots. This makes EV charging available for more people who live in urban and suburban settings.
CENTRALIZED MAPPING and OPERABILITY STATUS
The success of EV adoption largely depends on the accuracy of maps that show drivers the location and operability of charging stations. Currently, drivers rely on multiple smartphone apps to find EV chargers. Each smartphone app differs in what level of detail is available or even if a station is actually operable. To address these issues, centralization and standardization is important. New York should consider a centralized database of EV chargers that can be updated as new ones are installed, along with their operability status.
The state Assembly and Senate passed a bill in 2023 that would have created a smartphone app to provide this information, but the bill was vetoed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Currently, EV drivers must use multiple smartphone apps to learn about the location and operability of charging stations. Each app is specific to the companies that own the charging stations. In some cases, those smartphone apps do not include whether the charging stations are working or broken, which can leave drivers frustrated or stranded. This stands as a weakness in the system that might also dissuade some consumers from buying an EV.
2023 Report
Pattern report and education campaign on electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the Hudson Valley
- Report outlines EV trends and infrastructure needs for the future, as more than $1 billion will be spent across New York to install charging infrastructure
- Campaign includes advice on funding opportunities, working with utilities, best practices and policy recommendations, and a model zoning ordinance for multi-family dwellings
FULL STUDY CAN BE ACCESSED HERE
Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress’ report examines the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) across our region and strategies to install the public charging infrastructure that will power our transportation in the future. Pattern will use this research as part of a public education campaign in 2023, where our researchers will make stops in all nine counties to help lawmakers, community leaders, and business owners learn about the strategic deployment of charging infrastructure as well as the funding sources that can help to pay for charging stations.
“Our transition to electric vehicles is one of the most substantial changes to transportation in many generations,” Pattern CEO Adam Bosch said. “The Hudson Valley must be smart and strategic about the installation of public charging stations, which are quickly becoming essential infrastructure. Charging stations are necessary for people who live in the region, visit our communities, and travel along our highways. As we build out the regional network of charging stations, Pattern’s research will help community leaders and businesses understand where this infrastructure belongs, where it does not belong, and the smart policies that will make our transition to EVs as smooth as possible.”
Pattern’s research found that more and more people are adopting EVs across the Hudson Valley. In 2016 there were only about 1,000 fully electric vehicles on the road across our region. That number has grown to more than 15,700. The rate of EV adoption is increasing for many reasons, including government tax credits, the production of more fully electric models by car manufacturers, and state and national policy goals that seek to eliminate emissions.
The broad adoption of EVs will require an expansive network of public charging stations that allow drivers to recharge their cars during long trips. A reliable charging network is also needed for drivers to be confident about purchasing EVs. There are currently about 400 public charging stations in the nine counties served by Pattern.
In addition to data about EVs and charging stations across the Hudson Valley, Pattern’s research includes four in-depth guides on topics that are important for the installation of charging infrastructure across the region. These guides include:
Guide to Funding – There are more than $1 billion in federal, state and utility funding available across the State of New York for the installation of charging stations and their associated electrical infrastructure. The federal government has allocated $175 million to help New York build out its charging network along specific highway corridors and, after that, within local communities. Our electric utilities also provide funding for the installation of other electrical infrastructure that is necessary to power the stations. Pattern’s guide to funding includes an exhaustive list of all the funding sources that are available to our communities.
Guide to Planning with Utility Companies – EV charging stations require a greater electric load than you might think. An EV fast charger draws the same amount of electricity from the grid as a 1,000-unit apartment building. That’s why communities and businesses must work collaboratively with their electric utilities to plan and install EV charging stations. Our guide will help the Hudson Valley understand the process of working with our utilities to make installation happen as smoothly as possible.
Guide to Best Practices and Policy Recommendations – Pattern compiled a list of best practices that will help communities understand where to site charging stations, how to future-proof charging locations, and how to collaborate with the private sector on installation and maintenance. We also want to encourage smart policy changes that improve the roll-out of EV charging. For example, many of our highway corridors are prohibited from installing EV chargers because of a federal code that prohibits commercial activities at sites that were built with federal highway money. That includes highway pull-off areas, park-and-rides, and more. This policy and others need to change to help New York put EV charging stations where they are most useful.
Model Zoning Ordinance for Multi-Family Dwellings – Although Pattern’s study focuses on public charging stations, it is important to acknowledge that most EV drivers charge their cars at home. That raised an important question: What happens when you live in an apartment building or townhouse, and you do not have the authority to install your own charging station? Pattern worked with municipal lawyers to design a model zoning ordinance that would require developers to install charging stations at multi-unit residential projects in the future.
