How the New York International Auto Show previewed the state's electric shift
In recent years, the New York International Auto Show became consumed with electric vehicles. This year, that trend continued.
The 2023 New York International Auto Show cruised into the Javits Center in Hells Kitchen from April 7 to April 16, but with a twist. The push to move from typical combustion-engine cars to electric-powered vehicles has been ongoing for years, however, it has only recently become a serious consideration in the mainstream car industry.
In fact, the 2023 Auto Show was one of the first events to be dominated by electric cars. That’s because in 2020 and 2021, the annual Auto Show was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, though the event did make an in-person return, attendance was limited and attendees needed to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter.
It’s only fitting that the emergence of electric vehicles is taking place in New York City, where legislators and other elected officials are trying to build electric vehicle infrastructure through a program called Evolve NY. The New York Power Authority, a New York State public-benefit corporation, first announced the Evolve NY program in 2013, with support from then-governor Andrew Cuomo coming in 2018.
The heart of the plan involves investing $250 million into installing 800 new electric vehicle fast charging stations across New York by 2025. It is part of a larger effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, according to the 2018 statement by the governor’s office.
The Evolve NY exhibit at the NY Auto Show
The Evolve NY program was front-and-center at the Auto Show, with an interactive exhibit allowing visitors to try out a New York Power Authority charger for themselves. By installing these chargers along key routes in the state, the government hopes to make longer trips possible with electric vehicles.
“They’re trying to build chargers where people need them to cross the state,” a representative at the Evolve NY exhibit said. “This event is helping people learn about charging, how to live with an electric vehicle, and for those that are interested in buying them, we can show them the incentives available.”
Those incentives are backed by the state’s Charge NY initiative, which offers a Drive Clean Rebate of up to $2,000 for the purchase of new electric cars. There are also an assortment of state and federal tax credits that reward electric vehicle ownership. According to Atlas Public Policy, the state has paid out $104.9 million over 92,515 rebates since the program was enacted in 2017.
The infrastructure issue is a crucial part of assimilating electric vehicles into the state’s fleet, because driving an electric vehicle is complicated by its range and charging. A report by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2022 revealed that the median range of an electric vehicle was 234 miles, which is significantly less than the 403 miles provided by gasoline-powered vehicles. The same report said the maximum electric vehicle range was 405 miles, which is still dwarfed by the 765-mile maximum of gas-powered vehicles.
That report was based on the 2021 year of electric vehicles, and there’s been a shift in the right direction in the time since. The average range for an electric vehicle in 2023 was 291 miles, Bloomberg reported in March. Though range is improving, it still does not compare to that of combustion-engine cars.
“One of the major reasons cited by drivers for not buying an electric vehicle is a fear of running out of charge on the road,” said Lynne Smith, a spokesperson for the New York Power Authority. “Hosting a booth at the nation’s largest auto show allows New York State to reach an audience with a specific interest in the latest models and new technology and show why it makes sense to purchase and drive an electric vehicle.”
The Evolve NY charging stations are part of the Electrify America network, which is the largest public electric vehicle fast charging network in the U.S. At Electrify America and Evolve NY chargers, electric vehicle owners of all makes and models can charge their car in as little as 20 minutes.
“Drivers who are confident they will be able to find fast, convenient charging stations away from home are more likely to purchase EVs,” Smith said.
Where does Evolve NY currently stand?
Five years into the seven-year Evolve NY program, the exhibit at the 2023 New York International Auto Show represents a turning point in the shift to electric vehicles in New York State. There are already more than 8,000 Level 2 chargers — which charge vehicles faster than standard wall chargers — installed across the state, Smith said.
However, the real goal lies with DC fast charging, which can charge electric vehicles in between 15 minutes and 45 minutes. That is a significant jump from at-home Level 1 charging, where it can take hours or days to fully charge an electric vehicle, depending on the size of its battery.
Smith said the New York Power Authority plans to add 400 more DC fast chargers, also known as Level 3 chargers, across the state through the Evolve NY program. That would add to the state’s current total of 1,218 DC fast chargers, a figure that includes 409 Electrify America and Evolve NY charging stations.
The Evolve NY and Charge NY programs are making an impact on the streets, where there are more than 139,000 electric vehicles registered in the state. New York is still on track to meet its goal of having 850,000 zero-emission vehicles by 2025, but it has a long way to go before meeting that goal.
However, if the showing at the New York International Auto Show was any indication, there is promise. All the largest U.S. automakers — from Ford to General Motors — showcased new electric vehicle models at the trade show, and the infrastructure built through Evovle NY could make owning an electric vehicle more accessible and familiar to drivers.