NYC Mayor Performs Inaugural Charge at EV Charging ‘Superhub’
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — New York City Mayor Eric Adams didn’t just show up to celebrate the opening of a new EV charging “superhub” in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, last week, he actually performed the hub’s first charge, powering up a rideshare vehicle.
The new, 15-stall charging station was built by Revel, a Brooklyn-based infrastructure and mobility company.
According to the company, the individual stalls at its new superhub are capable of charging speeds of up to 150 kW, making the facility itself the largest “ultrafast” charging site anywhere in New York state.
“New York City is plugging into a cleaner, greener future,” Adams said during the grand opening ceremony.
“This station will help support the electrification of New York City’s Uber and Lyft fleet by 2030, as I announced in my State of the City address this year. Drivers want to drive electric vehicles, but New York City needs more chargers. Thanks to Revel, we are making it possible,” he said.
The new charging station is located in the garage of the historic Dime building at 260 S 4th St., in Brooklyn and will be open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It will also have no entry fee and be accessible to any brand EV, Revel said in a press release.
Within the next year, the company plans to open three more superhubs: a 60-stall site in Maspeth, Queens; a 30-stall site in the South Bronx, the first public fast charging-station anywhere in that borough; and a 10-stall site in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Revel will also open a 20-stall site in Red Hook called the “Red Hook Recharge Zone” that will have vehicle-to-grid technology and solar storage to support local grid resiliency.
“Public charging hubs, like Revel’s superhub, play a crucial role in reducing transportation emissions and improving air quality in our communities,” said Joy Gardner, executive director of Empire Clean Cities.
“Few New Yorkers have access to dedicated parking, so providing drivers with a convenient and reliable way to charge will encourage the transition away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles. We look forward to more accessible and affordable charging stations and celebrate this important step towards a cleaner and more sustainable future for all,” Gardner said.
“New Yorkers want to go electric, many already have, but before EVs can become the main way we get around on four wheels, we need more places to get a quick and reliable charge,” agreed Frank Reig, CEO and co-founder of Revel.
“Before this year, the outlook for significant new EV infrastructure was not optimistic.
I’m proud to say that’s no longer the case,” he continued. “Revel is not just changing the landscape of public fast charging in the city, we’re creating it.”
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue