City Addresses Climate Action Plan By Focusing on EVs

The City of Buffalo has 39 public facing Level 2 EV chargers currently installed in its public parking ramps. “We successfully received NYSERDA round 1 and 2 and we also received the CMAQ grant to install more EV chargers and EV vehicles,” said James Cross, Fleet Manager. “We’re happy with the progress so far but we are aggressively building out our Level 2 option and have plans to increase Level 3 options as well.” Cross looks forward to the time when consumers will see cost parity between internal combustion engine vehicles and EVs, and hopes to work on gaining buy-in from the public for transitioning traditional parking spaces to those that accommodate EVs. To that end, the City is always looking to engage the community with digestible amounts of EV information at public events.

The newest additions to the City fleet—two 2025 Chevrolet Equinox SUVs and two 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning trucks—are being deployed by the City's Department of Parking. The new electric vehicles support the City's Climate Action Plan by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating tailpipe pollutants.

Town Adds Ford Mach E and John Deere Gators To Fleet

The City of Dunkirk has been awarded grants from DEC and National Grid to install EV charging stations in priority locations. 

“We are working through the process with DEC,” said Vincent DeJoy, the City’s Development Director. The City has purchased a ZEV Ford Mach E for its Building and Zoning inspectors using a NYSERDA grant. Through Clean Energy Communities, Dunkirk has removed an older pickup truck from its Parks Department and has added two electric John Deere Gators to do many of the same functions but with zero emissions and less cost. 

“The City is embracing transition as we work on these grants,” said DeJoy.

Meals On EV Wheels Are a Money Saver

Installing EV charging stations was a “breeze,” says Allison Yacano, Senior Planner, Office of Planning and Development, Chenango County. The county has been working with Eastern Energy Solutions (EES), a local business. “EES made it very simple to complete the steps needed to make the stations operational,” Ms. Yacano notes. “Transitioning part of our municipal fleet to EVs has proven to be a worthwhile endeavor.”

Under this project, Chenango County has installed their first electric vehicle charging station. This is a Level 2 charger with two ports. “We intend to use this as a pilot project, with the intent that if it is a success, we will install more around the County."

The EV vehicles are being used by the Chenango County Area Agency on Aging for outreach and their home delivered meal program. Before the transition, employees were using their personal vehicles for outreach, and meals were being delivered using the public transit system via buses. This was an “extremely expensive obligation”, and impractical due to the lack of access to residents via the public transit system, Ms. Yacano notes. If the resident did not live on the bus route, they were ineligible to receive this service. The four electric vehicles that were purchased now reach many more residents, and are a lesser financial burden. During the winter months, it was costing approximately $.15 a mile, as opposed to the Federal Standard Mileage Rate at $.70/mile. The cost is expected to drop more during summer months.

Mayor Calls for Parking Study To Determine EV Readiness Needs

The Village of Clinton has added an EV to its fleet.

“Our primary success is adding an EV pick up truck to our fleet for the Department of Public Works.,” notes Mayor Elizabeth C. Tantillo.

As a practical matter, the Mayor says the Village needs to do a parking study. 

“The places where it makes most sense to have EV chargers are in the Historic District,” says the Mayor. “As we only have one EV, we are evaluating how well it serves the demands of the DPW. We have no EV chargers yet.  There are some EV charging stations in the Town of Kirkland, which is very close to the Village.” “Community demand has not yet been significant,” says the Mayor.

Saratoga Springs:  Early Adopter of Fast-Charging EV stations

The City of Saratoga Springs has two Chevy Bolts and one Chevy Equinox. In addition, the city has four Level 2 charger, with two plugs each, at Woodlawn/Walton, for a total of eight. There are four NYPA EVolve NY Fast Chargers in the City Center Garage.

“We need more Level 2 chargers for both fleet and public use, and it’s in progress,” says Michael Dutre, City of Saratoga Springs Administrator of Parks, Open Lands and Historic Preservation. 

Budget constraints are the city’s biggest issue related to EV adoption. 

“We need state and federal funding to further electrify our fleet and built out our charging infrastructure,” says Dutre. In addtion, Dutre would like to address public education (e.g., range anxiety) and economic factors (budgeting for the EV transition).

Village of Briarcliff Manor Attracts 150 Residents To EV Plan

The Village of Briarcliff participated in Drive Electric Earth Day in April.   A highlight of the afternoon came when Mayor Steven A. Vescio announced that the Village had reached a remarkable milestone: Using NYS Department of Motor Vehicle records, they were able to document the purchase or lease of more than 150 EVs by Village residents or residents of several neighboring communities. The Village’s 18-month EV education campaign was accepted by NYSERDA as a primary impetus for the uptick in EV activity in Briarcliff and adjacent zip codes.  This achievement triggered a $50,000 grant that allowed the Village to purchase its first electric vehicle for the municipal fleet.

“For us it wasn’t just about the money—it was about what it represented: our community’s commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said Seth Leitman, member, Briarcliff Manor Sustainability Advisory Committee. Leitman also serves as president of the Greater Hudson River Electric Vehicle Association.

“This is just the beginning. We’re aiming for a transition to an electric municipal fleet and definitely charging stations at every village facility. Plus, at the local train station for our resident commuters on Metro North Railroad,” Leitman added.

The Village of Briarcliff Manor Sustainability Advisory Committee worked with the Briarcliff Manor Climate Smart Task Force, the Village, and the Greater Hudson River Electric Vehicle Association to secure a New York State grant, part of which went towards the purchase of a Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle.  This purchase will lower the ongoing costs of maintaining the Village vehicle fleet, save on fuel costs, and help reduce emissions.  The Village will be installing chargers at the Library, Village Hall, and Scarborough Station this year.