CALSTART, a national not-for-profit clean transportation organization will kick off a series of Ride-and-Drive events in the New York City area to give New Yorkers a chance to enjoy the fun of driving an electric car and educate the public about the economic and environmental benefits of electric vehicles (EVs). The first event is on October 24 in Westchester followed by a second event on Long Island on November 3. The Ride-and-Drives are open to the public and will allow drivers to gain firsthand experience with EVs. Details on both events are as follows:

The events are part of Charge to Work NY, a $1.7 million initiative that will provide rebates for EVs and chargers to New York City-area employers. Charge to Work NY will help eliminate 1,700 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and save 175,000 gallons of gasoline annually while supporting New York State’s goals of getting more than 800,000 EVs on the roads by 2025 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030.

Both events provide the opportunity to drive a variety of EV models from local dealerships, exposing drivers to cutting-edge technology that provides a more responsive and quieter driving experience while reducing pollution. Models available for test drives include the Nissan Leaf, Daimler Smart Fortwo, and the Tesla Model 3. The events also showcase business leaders that already provide electric vehicle charging for employees and visitors.

Funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Charge to Work NY is a multi-year, strategic partnership between CALSTART, ChargePoint, the New York City Department of Transportation, Empire Clean Cities, and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM). Under the program, NYSERDA provides rebates of $4,000 per charging port purchased by employers and $500 per electric vehicle purchased or leased by employees.

Through Charge to Work NY, CALSTART and its partners seek to engage more than 100 businesses to encourage employees to replace their conventional gasoline vehicles with clean, highly efficient EVs. The program’s ultimate goals are to spur adoption of 450 EVs and to facilitate the purchase of 132 ChargePoint ports for installation at local workplaces.

Employers and employees in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island are encouraged to visit the official program website at https://www.chargetoworkny.com to learn more about the program, sign up to participate, or express interest in hosting a Ride-and-Drive event later this year or in Spring 2019.

“To reach New York’s goals for clean transportation, drivers need assurance that electric vehicle chargers will be there where they park,” said Benjamin Mandel, Northeast Regional Director at CALSTART. “Particularly in and around New York City, where public charging is not yet prevalent, workplace charging can be the most effective way to galvanize electric vehicle adoption. We are excited to team with leaders in sustainability in both Westchester and Long Island for these events that showcase their leadership and make the EV experience more accessible for the general public.”

Adam Ruder, Clean Transportation Program Manager, NYSERDA said, “Under Governor Cuomo, New York is providing more and more opportunities for employers to install electric vehicle charging stations to expand the state’s charging infrastructure. These and other local events offer consumers an opportunity to see just how much fun electric cars are to drive while learning about the economic benefits they offer.”

“Supporting electric vehicles and workplace charging is a natural extension of Purchase College’s motto ‘Think Wide Open’,” said Tom Kelly, Senior Energy Manager at Purchase College. “For the past several years, employees have been able to charge their vehicles at several locations on campus. Sustainability is integral to the college’s operations with this being one of the many sustainability initiatives the college supports.”

David G. Schieren, CEO, EmPower Solar said, “Powering electric vehicles with solar panels saves money in fuel costs, cleans the air and means less reliance on foreign oil. With the latest technological advancements producing amazing vehicles to choose from, the next step is to rapidly deploy infrastructure to facilitate the same. EmPower Solar looks forward to providing our clients with solar systems and battery storage systems that complement electric vehicles.”