Queens Welcomes New York State’s Largest Public EV Charging Installation

The owner of a high-rise building in Flushing, Queens has made electric vehicle ownership more convenient by turning a four-story garage into the largest public charging station in New York State.

Flushing Commons, with 148 apartments, office space, 92 stores and restaurants, now offers 424 public chargers. Con Edison’s PowerReady program offset 80 percent of the eligible costs to install the chargers and ensure the site was suitable for the increased power demand.

“Increasing public charging infrastructure in communities like Flushing helps drive adoption, improves air quality and community health, and supports the state’s climate goals,” said Raghu Sudhakara, vice president, Distributed Resource Integration, Con Edison. “Our PowerReady incentives support the expansion of our region’s public charging network by making it more affordable to install chargers, helping to make the transition to electric vehicles easier for New Yorkers.”

Located in a New York State-designated Disadvantaged Community, these chargers will help reduce carbon emissions by approximately 435,000 tons per year. That equals removing 100,000 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road, reducing the health burden of tailpipe emissions in this area.

The project also benefits from Con Edison’s SmartCharge Commercial program, which offers cash payments to station operators for off-peak charging.

The Level 2 stations can charge a light-duty vehicle from empty to 80 percent in about four to 10 hours, depending on battery size. They are ideal for drivers who shop, dine, or reside at Flushing Commons.

The developer for the charging installation, NewTech Energy, saw the scarcity of public charging in Queens as an opportunity to improve the experience for visitors and residents, increase foot traffic, and support clean transportation.

Approximately 40 Flushing Commons residents own EVs, with more expected to make the transition now that they have access to reliable charging.

The site was designed in a way that will make it easy for the developer to add Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC), which can charge an average light-duty EV in under an hour.

Quotes of Support:

Donovan Richards Jr., Queens Borough President

"It's great to see New York State's largest public EV charging installation in Flushing," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "This reflects our steadfast commitment to making The World's Borough a highly sustainable place to live, work and play. These hundreds of new, publicly accessible chargers will help drive EV adoption among Queens' residents and visitors, while reducing fossil fuel emissions and positioning our borough as a leader in clean transportation."

Sandra Ung, New York City Council Member

"Flushing is thrilled to be home to New York State’s largest public EV charging installation,” said New York City Council member Sandra Ung. “These publicly accessible chargers make EV ownership more convenient for visitors and residents of Queens, which will help drive adoption and reduce fossil fuel emissions. I applaud Con Edison and Flushing Commons for their commitment to reducing tailpipe emissions in the New York City area and look forward to seeing more EVs on our roads.”

Benjy Friedman, President, NewTech Energy Inc.

“Flushing’s growing community of electric vehicle owners faced limited access to convenient charging options,” said Benjy Friedman, president, NewTech Energy Inc. “Partnering with Con Edison and Flushing Commons, we’ve installed 424 public chargers with an infrastructure-forward approach. By designing the site to easily accommodate future DC fast charging, we’re not only addressing today’s needs, but preparing Flushing to lead in the next chapter of clean transportation.”

Abe Moshel, Operator, Flushing Commons Parking Garage

“We’ve witnessed firsthand the increasing demand for accessible and dependable EV charging from both residents and visitors,” said Abe Moshel, operator, Flushing Commons Parking Garage. “Thanks to our collaboration with Con Edison and NewTech Energy, we are proud to host the largest public EV charging installation in New York State, which reflects our deep commitment to the community, sustainability, and the future of urban mobility.”

Meg Brigman, Chief of Staff, Curo Charging

“Located in a high-demand area, Flushing Commons’ public charging installation is enabling widespread commercial adoption for EV fleets in the greater New York City area,” said Meg Brigman, chief of staff, Curo Charging, a virtual platform that connects fleet drivers and operators with EV charging spaces. “We currently have a car-sharing fleet with electric vehicles utilizing the site, providing a valuable transportation amenity for the community while also expanding access to clean, affordable mobility options."

DianSong Yu, Executive Director, Flushing Business Improvement District

“This new public charging installation will draw visitors to shop, eat, and explore all our vibrant community has to offer,” said DianSong Yu, executive director, Flushing Business Improvement District. “That will benefit our businesses and our workers and contribute to our thriving local economy.”

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than three million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York.