Mayor Adams Announces Nearly 1,000 new Electric Vehicles to Replace Fossil Fuel-Powered City Fleet Vehicles, Deployment of new EV Charging Infrastructure

January 4, 2023

Video available at: https://youtu.be/glTctyrUsS0

Vehicles Include Electric Transit Vans and Pick-Up Trucks for Agencies Citywide, and Electric Refuse Trucks and Hybrid Plug-In Street Sweepers for DSNY

New Investments in Electric Vehicle Fleet Made Possible by $10.1 Million in Federal Grant Funding

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock, and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today announced $10.1 million in federal grants to replace nearly 925 fossil fuel-powered fleet vehicles with electric vehicles (EV) and install 315 new EV chargers across the city. DOT facilitated the grant application process through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program and will administer the funding. DCAS will receive $6.2 million, and the remainder will be disbursed to the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY). This investment helps advance the city’s goal of electrifying its entire vehicle fleet, building on the steps already taken by the Adams administration to meet the New York City Clean Fleet Plan ahead of schedule.

“When New Yorkers see cars, trucks, and vans with the ‘NYC’ logo on the side, they can rest assured that those vehicles are contributing to a greener city,” said Mayor Adams. “We are already ahead of schedule in transitioning city vehicles away from fossil fuels, and this new grant will allow us to take nearly 1,000 fossil-fuel vehicles off our roads, helping us reduce carbon emissions, make our air cleaner, and save on fuel costs.”

“Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, New York City has already become a national leader in sustainability and green infrastructure,” said First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “This new grant will help us continue to transition our fleet to electric vehicles, protecting our environment and continuing to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New Yorkers.”

“Thanks to this investment from the Biden Administration, the city is poised to make huge progress on making our fleet more climate-friendly,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Our agencies rely on these vehicles to complete vital operations within the five boroughs, and this funding helps us decarbonize some of the hardest vehicles to decarbonize: heavy-duty trucks. From cleaning the streets to getting our air cleaner, the trucks move us in the right direction.”

“We are laying the groundwork for an all-electric fleet of the future that will support critical citywide operations while benefiting the environment,” said DCAS Commissioner Pinnock. “Through this funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, we are poised to make a significant transition for our light- and medium-duty fleet. This is a critical next step for our agency as we lead the charge in government fleet operations. We thank our partners at our sister agency, the New York City Department of Transportation, for their support and advocacy for this funding and look forward to these vehicles replacing fossil fuel-powered models.”

“We see the impact of climate change each day, so today’s announcement recognizes that the time for meaningful change — including accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles — is now,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “Thanks to this funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the city will be able to replace nearly 1,000 municipal vehicles — including a large proportion of DOT’s fleet — with greener alternatives. Under the leadership of Mayor Adams, we are proud to work with DCAS and our other sister agencies on our shared goal of reducing emissions from the transportation sector.”

“The mechanical broom cleans the streets, and with these new hybrids, we’ll be able to clean the air, too,” said DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “I want to thank our partners in city government and in Washington, D.C., for making this possible.”

“Today’s announcement highlights how the Adams administration continues to drive down greenhouse gas emissions by adding even more electric vehicles to the city’s municipal fleet,” said Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “This $10.1 million grant supports the city’s first major investment in all-electric pick-up trucks and vans, as well as new charging ports, which will help us decarbonize the transportation sector, combat climate change, and create a cleaner, greener future for all New Yorkers. I want to thank the U.S. Department of Transportation for this important funding and our partners at DCAS, DOT, and DSNY for their continued efforts to electrify and reduce dependance on fossil fuels.”

“New York City must lead by example, and we are grateful for these critical partnerships with the federal government to help us reach our climate and air quality goals,” said New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Executive Director Kizzy Charles-Guzman. “This investment in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure will improve the health of New Yorkers and create a more sustainable New York.”

The $10.1 million in funding will help procure 382 Chevrolet Bolts, 360 Ford E-Transit vans, and 150 Ford F-150 E-Lightning pick-up trucks. Additionally, 25 plug-in hybrid street sweepers will be earmarked for DSNY, an important step in electrifying the city’s specialized equipment fleet.

The funds will additionally support the first major investment by DCAS in all-electric pick-up trucks and vans. DCAS recently registered its first requirements contracts for electric cargo vans, electric pick-ups, and a law enforcement model of the electric pick-up. In total, the city operates over 6,000 pick-up trucks and vans, which represent 25 percent of the city’s total on-road fleet. This first order of electric pick-up trucks and vans brings the agency closer to meeting the goal of an all-electric light- and medium-duty fleet by 2035.

The seven all-electric refuse trucks will be the first owned by DSNY following a successful pilot assessment of an all-electric refuse unit. DSNY will test the operation of these trucks citywide. The funding will also support DSNY’s first order of plug-in hybrids and help the agency assess the efficacy of both plug-in hybrid electric and all-electric sweepers.

As of September 2022, DCAS reached its 2025 goal of transitioning 4,000 vehicles in the city fleet to electric vehicles — three years ahead of schedule. Currently, the electric fleet includes a wide range of vehicle types and categories from over 200 Ford Mustang Mach Es — most of which are for law enforcement purposes — to nearly 850 GM Bolts.

DCAS expects to operate over 5,000 EVs by June 2023. The agency has also ordered the first three electric buses for the New York City Department of Correction and is working on EV contracts for box trucks, garbage trucks for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and additional replacements of gas cars with electric models.

In addition to increasing the EV fleet, DCAS also operates the largest EV charging network in New York State, with over 1,300 charging ports available to fleet units. DCAS will deploy another 600 charging ports in the next 18 months. This funding announced today is supporting the purchase of 315 additional charging units.

“New York City’s fleet has committed to going all-electric for most units by 2035,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner for Fleet Management Keith Kerman. “We’ve already made progress on electrifying cars. Electrifying medium- and heavy-duty is the next big step, and this procurement of over 540 electric trucks is our most important yet. Thank you to our great partners at the U.S. Department of Transportation, DOT, and DSNY for helping make our electric dreams a reality.”

“Today, we are seeing the effects of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “This investment, through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, will reduce our carbon emissions, expand New York City’s electric vehicle fleet, and improve overall air quality. I applaud Mayor Adams and Secretary Buttigieg for delivering this funding, and I will continue to work with my colleagues and fight for a greener, healthier future.”

“Today’s announcement showcases New York City’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels. These nearly 1,000 new electric vehicles and additional charging units will help decrease pollution, make our government more sustainable, and create a greener future for New Yorkers,” said U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez. “Our city is leading the way in the fight against climate change, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Mayor Adams and other local leaders as we work toward full electrification of our city’s vehicle fleet.”

“Electrifying our city’s fossil-fuel powered fleet is critical to meeting New York’s nation-leading climate goals,” said U.S. Representative Dan Goldman. “This $10 million investment to replace almost 1,000 vehicles is a major step forward in the city’s goal to electrify its entire fleet and is a testament to the exceptionally productive partnership between the mayor’s administration and our congressional delegation. I will continue to make the electrification of our transportation infrastructure a priority in Congress and work hand-in-hand with my colleagues at the state and local level until that goal becomes reality.”

“The mayor’s plan to bring all-electric light- and medium-duty fleet vehicles by 2035 is a welcomed one,” said New York State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud. “Replacing fossil fuel vehicles with 1,000 electric vehicles will reduce emissions along corridors in Senate District 19. I applaud the strong commitment to cleaner air quality.”

“Thanks to the proper application of federal funds by the administration of Mayor Eric Adams, we are able to welcome this allocation of millions of dollars and put these funds towards improving the quality of life for everyone in the city,” said New York State Senator Luis Sepúlveda. “Replacing fossil fuel vehicles with electric vehicles is not only a responsible action for health and the environment, but it is also an important step in the right direction to new technologies that are better, more effective, and environmentally responsible.”

“Fully electrifying our city’s fleet of vehicles is a crucial step towards a fossil-free future,” said New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “I applaud Mayor Adams for his commitment to all-electric vehicles and their environmental benefits for our city, and I look forward to continuing to work with the mayor and the DOT to see this through.”

“Today’s announcement by the mayor that the city will use allocated federal funds to retire 925 fossil fuel-powered vehicles and replace them with electric vehicles is welcome news,” said New York State Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick. “As we confront the climate crisis, we must move as rapidly as possible to shift to clean energy vehicles utilizing renewable energy sources. We have an immense challenge before us, and we must take all available opportunities to move away from fossil fuels. With New York’s aging built environment, we have a particularly tough job to decarbonize, but electric vehicles are a readily available option for the city, and I applaud this action. I look forward to continued decisive actions to improve New York’s environment and add to our efforts to fight climate change.”

“The climate crisis is on our doorsteps, and discrete projects such as this are critical towards our ultimate goal of preventing the worst impacts from climate change,” said New York State Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz. “Municipal vehicle fleets are a great way to expand electric vehicle usage and leverage the magnitude of our city to motivate the electric vehicle industry and drive prices down for consumers. I look forward to continued progress on our city and state climate goals.”

“Mayor Adams’ plan to deploy electric vehicles is a literal breath of fresh air. Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions and responsible for half our air pollution, making the transition to electric vehicles the cornerstone of a sustainable future,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “EVs will wipe away the emissions causing climate change and respiratory diseases. In Albany, I am passing bills to reduce rates for charging EVs, create more charging sites, and phase in requirements for all vehicles sold in the state to be EVs. Mayor Adams is an incredible partner, replacing almost 1,000 of our fleet vehicles with EVs and installing 315 chargers. Together, we are ‘taking charge’ of the blueprint to sustainability and better health.”

“The mayor’s plan to use grant funding to replace fossil fuel-powered fleet vehicles with electric vehicles is a step in the right direction to protect our environment,” said New York State Assemblymember Nikki Lucas. “In my district, we suffer from a high number of asthma cases, which is due in part to poor air quality. Plans that involve clean energy and improved air quality will receive my support, particularly if the plans include improving the air quality in my district.”

“With health outcomes in the Bronx among the poorest nationally, due to high traffic along our roadways that generate harmful fumes and air pollution, we welcome the replacement of over 900 city-owned vehicles that are fossil fuel-powered with electric ones.” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “I want to thank Mayor Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez for their collective work to secure the funding necessary to improve our city’s air quality and environmental justice.”

“With this $10 million investment, the movement from vehicles that guzzle fossil fuel and pollute our air to electric vehicles that put our environment first just got a huge boost,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “This comes just months after DCAS reached its goal of transitioning 4,000 vehicles in the city fleet to electric vehicles three years ahead of schedule, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Mayor Adams and agencies across the city. We need to continue this momentum, reducing reliance on private vehicles for city work on top of the work underway for our city fleet. I look forward to the day when every vehicle out there — from cars to vans, trucks, and specialized vehicles like city sweepers — represents our commitment to a sustainable and healthy New York City. Thank you to Mayor Adams and all the partners who are advancing this urgent work on behalf of the future of this planet and all who call it home.”

“Every action we take to end our reliance on fossil fuels is a direct investment in the future of our city and the health of our children and grandchildren,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Electrifying our city fleet is a critical step toward making our city more sustainable, and thank you to both the Adams administration for this vital work and the federal government for its funding to help make it possible.”

“The future of New York’s vehicle fleet is electric,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, chair, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “A greener fleet will improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and move the city closer to carbon-neutrality. I applaud the administration’s efforts to electrify our fleet, and I support the city’s continuing commitment to minimize our climate impact.”

“It is exciting to see the city making progress on the goal of electrifying our vehicle fleet and investing in the charging infrastructure needed to make the switch,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Keith Powers. “New York City is already a leader in reducing carbon emissions, and this investment will help us continue to work toward cleaner air, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future for all New Yorkers. I look forward to working with city leaders to codify our zero-emission vehicle goals through my bill, Intro. 0279, and continue taking bold action on climate change.”

“I applaud Mayor Eric Adams, DCAS, and DOT for their efforts to replace 925 fossil fuel-powered fleet vehicles with electric vehicles — and to install 315 new EV chargers across the city,” said New York City Councilmember James F. Gennaro, chair, Committee on Environmental Protection. “This $10.1 million investment in electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure is sending an important message to New Yorkers — that making the switch to an electric vehicle has never been easier. I would like to thank Commissioner Rodriguez and Commissioner Pinnock for all of their hard work to make New York City more environmentally friendly.”

“I applaud Mayor Adams for taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said New York City Councilmember Oswald Feliz. “This will not only help ensure our air is clean but will also help combat climate change and ensure the future of New York City is bright.”

“The City of New York already has the largest electric municipal vehicle fleet in the United States, and I commend the Department of Transportation for committing to replace almost 1,000 more fossil fuel-powered vehicles with electric vehicles and to install 315 new chargers,” said New York City Councilmember Shekar Krishnan. “The need to reduce emissions in New York from carbon-spewing cars remains urgent, as much for the health of our communities as for our climate.”

“At a committee hearing last year, I heard from DCAS representatives that one obstacle to expanding the city’s fleet of electric vehicles is the lack of charging ports to keep them up and running,” said New York City Councilmember Sandra Ung, chair, Committee on Governmental Operations. “This funding for 315 charging ports and the acquisition of new vehicles will bring the city closer to meeting its deadline of going all-electric by 2035, as well as advancing our larger goals of addressing the long-term impacts of climate change.”

“We have increasingly learned from recent experiences that we can never be too prepared with our coastal communities when it comes to weather disasters,” said New York City Councilmember Inna Vernikov. “With sudden intense rainfalls and flooding, it is a lot easier and less costly to be proactive and preventative. The mayor’s focus on this is much appreciated. Cloudburst resiliency projects throughout our coastal neighborhoods, including in our district, by all available funding should continue to expand our ability to cope with sudden and dramatic weather events like flooding.”

“I am thrilled by the city’s shift to electric vehicles as this is undoubtedly a great step in the fight for climate justice; and as the chair of the Committee on Education, I applaud this decision because our children’s futures are at stake if we do not curb our carbon emissions,” said New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph.

“Replacing 925 gas guzzlers — garbage trucks and street sweepers among them — with clean-energy vehicles is a huge step toward reducing air pollution and meeting the city’s goal of transitioning to an all-electric fleet,” said Julie Tighe, executive director, New York League of Conservation Voters. “And with 315 new EV chargers coming, the message to residents is clear: Replace your fossil fuel-burning car with one that is battery-powered, and the city will have the resources for you to power up. The New York League of Conservation Voters applauds Mayor Adams for continuing to ‘Get Stuff Done’ to clean up our transportation sector, as well as DCAS Commissioner Pinnock and DOT Commissioner Rodriguez for advocating for the $10.1 million in federal funds to achieve this milestone.”

###