New York State unveiled the first non-Tesla fast charger for electric vehicles (EV) in the Adirondack Park – providing a key link to the North Country and better accessibility to the park region for drivers including those traveling to and from Montreal. The four 175 kilowatt Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) in Schroon Lake are the fifth location completed as part of a statewide EVolve NY charging network being installed along key travel corridors and in urban areas to make it convenient for travelers to drive EVs. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) initiative makes charging quick and convenient and helps accelerate Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s ambitious statewide clean energy goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
“A fast charging station is a perfect fit for the Adirondack Park with its extensive protected wilderness and reputation for healthy, clean, low-impact activities that preserve the environment,” said NYPA President and CEO Gil C. Quiniones. “This location will make it easier and more convenient for residents and visitors to own EVs and be a welcome stop for people visiting the area and traveling to and from Montreal. NYPA’s EVolve NY network is taking shape as it helps reduce gas emissions and supports Governor Cuomo’s climate leadership goals.”
Schroon Lake’s four chargers, installed in the parking lot of a Sunoco station on U.S. 9 in Essex County, are the first fast chargers offering non-proprietary charging in the Adirondack Park, meaning they can power any fully electric vehicle with fast charge capability, regardless of make or model. The only other fast charger in the region is a Lake Placid Supercharger site that can only be used by Teslas.
The charger site provides basic amenities such as coffee, snacks and restrooms as well as a wide variety of camping equipment, novelties and Adirondack-themed gifts serving both the local community and those visiting the region. The location is also significant as the Olympic region looks ahead to the World University Games in 2023 as sustainability and zero emission vehicles will be a key component of the event.
“We appreciate the progressive thought process that went into the decision to participate in the EVolve NY program. We are thrilled that the Schroon Lake Sunoco Station will be a host site adding this green energy source to the North Country Corridor,” said Schroon Lake Town Supervisor Jeff Subra. “The versatility to rapidly charge any type of electric vehicle will undoubtedly increase the demand and use of this technology in the greater Schroon Lake community and provide for travelers throughout the Adirondacks.”
The new installation complements the Governor's "Make Ready" program, which will use funding from investor-owned utilities to add even more EV charging stations that will be built in key locations to support expanded EV use with a goal of deploying more than 50,000 chargers by 2025. Such electrification efforts, in collaboration with the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), will also help the state reach its aggressive clean energy goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, legislation that was signed into law last year.
NYPA’s first Evolve NY charging hubs were recently announced in Malone in Franklin County, Watertown in Jefferson County and LaGrangeville in the Mid-Hudson Valley. A 10-charger station – the largest public EV fast-charging station in the Northeast – was unveiled Friday at John F. Kennedy International Airport. By the end of 2021, EVolve NY’s fast charging network will include up to 200 chargers at 50 locations along major New York transportation corridors, as well as in key urban hubs from Buffalo to New York City.
Access to fast chargers, which charge an EV in as little as 20 minutes, fills key gaps to wider adoption of EVs, making them an easier and realistic choice for drivers. “Level 2” public chargers, often seen at homes, businesses and workplaces, can take up to six hours for a full charge and are intended for use while drivers are working or shopping, or for those who don’t have access to charging at home or work.
NYPA launched its EVolve NY initiative in 2018 to expand fast charging along key travel corridors, create new charging hubs in major cities and airports, and establish electric vehicle-friendly model communities that will encourage residents to transition to driving electric vehicles.
The fast chargers at Schroon Lake will be on the EV Connect network and payment can be made via the EV Connect phone app or with a credit card.
"The EVolve NY program has positioned itself at the forefront of next-generation EV infrastructure by commissioning ultra high-power dynamic chargers,” said Blair Sun Chee Fore, director of PMO, EV Connect, the network software provider. “EVolve NY has taken a strategic approach to energy optimization at the charger level, and the design and installation insights gained from this site establish the foundation for future-proofing and scaling ultra high-power charging sites."
Information about EVolve NY fast chargers can be found on PlugShare
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