New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that there will be more than 100 high-speed EV charging ports available in the state in the coming months as part of the New York State Electric Vehicle Programs. Surging gas prices and growing concerns about the environment are making more people switch over to EVs than ever before. However, charging these vehicles remains a problem, with EV drivers often complaining about long queues outside most public charging stations.

According to the American Petroleum Institute, there are over 150,000 gas stations across the United States. Most of these are self-service, and it takes drivers between five and 10 minutes to fill up their tanks. However, when it comes to electric vehicles, there are only about 45,000 charging stations across the country. While the total number of EVs is also significantly lower than the number of gas-powered cars, the real problem is that it takes between 30 to 50 minutes to completely charge an EV.

Related: More EV Charging Stations Or Faster Charging? What Needs To Be Fixed First?

New York will expand its high-speed charging port network to more than 100 across the state, including 10 fast chargers at the Port Authority and LaGuardia Airport as part of the EVolve New York Fast Charging Network. The remaining chargers will be installed at municipal and private parking lots, convenience stores, and other strategic locations. As for the fast chargers at LaGuardia, these will complement the 11 existing chargers at the airport. In a press release, Governor Hochul said that the upcoming fast chargers will have power outputs of up to 350 kW and will be able to power EVs in less than 30 minutes. These charging stations will support all EVs, including Teslas with an adapter. The chargers will be located on Runway Drive between Terminals A and B, and are expected to open in 2023.

New York International Auto Show Will Focus On EVs

Electric vehicle charging

Governor Hochul’s announcement was made in the lead-up to this year’s New York International Auto Show, which returns after a two-year hiatus and will be held from April 15-24 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. As part of the show’s increased focus on EVs, there will be an all-new multi-brand EV test track that will give visitors an opportunity to test drive a wide range of electric vehicles, including the Chevrolet Bolt, INDI One, Kia EV6, Nissan Leaf, VinFast VF 8, Volkswagen ID.4 EV, Volvo XC 40 Recharge, and more.

The latest developments are part of New York’s massive push into cleaner transportation, which includes switching the state’s 50,000-odd public school buses to electric by 2035. The Governor also signed a legislation last year, setting a goal for all new passenger cars and trucks sold in New York to be zero-emission by 2035. The Governor also encouraged New Yorkers to visit the auto show “to see how EVs are fast becoming integral to New York’s clean energy economy.”