Charge Leader Program

The

by Livingston Energy Group

Getting all of New York's Communities on the Map...Together.

We believe it is critical to support New York State's communities in coordinating the installation of electric vehicle infrastructure to meet the increasing demands in this steadily growing market. Our Charge Leader Program intends to connect our focus communities to the statewide network by utilizing various funding sources made available for this very purpose and designed to help New York reach its climate goals.

Livingston Energy Group considers the core objectives of the program in two distinct categories:​

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Network Expansion & Inclusion Goal

• Including New York State’s key communities in the expansion of publicly available Level 2 and DCFC networks using available funding

• Partnering with private and public organizations to effectively plan charging infrastructure for maximal community and driver benefit.

Connected Communities Goal

• Supporting EV ownership and attracting new drivers to the community

• Leveraging charging infrastructure by engaging local organizations and businesses with driver groups and rewards programs

• Providing municipal leaders with economic and community activity insights resulting from a network utilization

Included below are a number of resources pertaining to the Charge Leader Program.

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1. ElectrifyNY Municipal Toolkit. https://electrifyny.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ElectrifyNY-Municipal-Toolkit_Nov-2020.pdf

2. Electric Vehicle Cost-Benefit Analysis (MJB&A and NRDC). https://mjbradley.com/sites/default/files/NY_PEV_CB_Analysis_FINAL.pdf

3. Why Municipalities Should Invest in Electric Vheicle Charging Infrastructure, Today (Otonomo). https://otonomo.io/blog/why-municipalities-should-invest-in-electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-today/

4. NYSERDA Benefit-Cost Analysis of EV Deployment in NYS. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Files/Publications/Research/Transportation/19-07-Benefit-Cost-Analysis-EV-Deployment-NYS.pdf

Founded by energy efficiency professionals in 2016, Livingston Energy Group, LLC is a clean energy company based in New York State's Capital Region, offering a wide array of services across the United States ranging from basic project consultations to thorough turnkey energy upgrades. Our purpose is to facilitate the adoption of more efficient technologies, including Level 2 and DCFC EV charging stations and charging management software, to maximize our clients' added value while contributing to carbon offsets.

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Livingston Energy Group provides several services for project design, management, and financing, and funding assistance where applicable, minimizing out-of-pocket investments and ongoing operating costs for our clients. In addition to our well-established charging station solutions we currently offer, our company is actively committed to hardware and software development, specifically aimed at improving user experiences for both station owners and drivers. As we aim to build an increasingly robust EV charging network for the benefit of all station owners, drivers, and stakeholders, Livingston Energy Group is dedicated to enabling the future of sustainable and cost-effective EV charging infrastructure throughout municipalities, workplaces, residential multi-unit dwellings, and other public areas. 

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Livingston Energy Group will install several publicly available stations within the proposed communities of Phase 1. Regardless of whether the installation is on a government-owned property or non-government-owned property, charging stations will be accessible by users 24-hours per day, seven days per week for no less than 355 days per year. We are currently inviting communities to join for the initial funding round, although based on geography, different locations will be eligible for different funding programs and equipment types.

We intend for the fast-charging station installations to be a minimum of 75 kW per port, providing 75 kW in electrical power for EV charging, which typically charges a vehicle to 80% in approximately 20-30 minutes. Level 2 charging stations, stations that charge at lower power than fast charging equipment, will frequently be proposed in co-location with DCFC units and may also be sited strategically as destination charging locations.

Livingston Energy Group is deploying its Charge Leader Program as part of the NYSERDA's DCFC Program, aspiring to encourage more travelers to drive with EVs. Livingston aims to expand the area available for EV drivers to travel, making critical communities pertinent to infrastructure planning for these projects. Participation among leading municipalities sends a strong signal to other communities across New York State that it remains committed to the ambitious State climate goals of reducing carbon footprint and improving air quality by incorporating electric vehicle technology.

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The process to allocate funding for potential Phase 1 projects will begin in February of 2021, and Livingston Energy Group is currently preparing the Phase 1 network plan based on communities expressing interest. Upon approval, participating communities are likely to obtain complete funding for their potential projects. To be considered for participation and funding, a letter of intent from the municipality will indicate a community's interest. Upon approval, Livingston will inform participating municipalities, at which time they can determine if and how they would like to proceed.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the transportation sector accounts for 36% of the State's greenhouse gas emissions (1). The transportation sector's electrification is needed to meet the New York State Energy Plan (SEP) targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 (2). New York State must increase EV adoption to meet transportation decarbonization and broad GHG reduction goals. To do so, the deployment of DCFC infrastructure is critical. Increased installation of DCFC infrastructure will help meet growing EV populations' needs, counter range anxiety concerns, and accelerate EV adoption across New York State. Through this project, New York State municipalities will lead by example by providing DCFC stations for the general public. DCFC stations provide a viable charging option for people without the ability to charge at home, such as those who live in apartment buildings, and play a critical role in facilitating the electrification of ride-hailing fleets, including taxis, Uber, and Lyft, by offering a quick way for drivers to charge their EVs (3).

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Among countless other benefits, installing publicly accessible EV charging stations adds resiliency to our communities and encourages drivers to switch to an EV while simultaneously boosting local economies, creating jobs, and reducing foreign oil reliance. Electric Vehicle Symposium, the largest international EV symposium and exhibition, has confirmed multiple social benefits, including but not limited to lowering healthcare costs, positive employment growth, and environmental benefits directly related to public health (4).

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With the Charge Leader Project's implementation, New York State will ultimately accelerate EV adoption, providing numerous social and environmental benefits for every New Yorker.

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REFERENCES

1 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Sources of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in New York,
2 S. 6599, A. 8429, New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, 2019-2020 Regular Session (NY 2019),
3 Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), Accelerating Ride-Hailing Electrification: Challenges, Benefits, and Options for State Action,
4 Malmgren, I. Quantifying the Societal Benefits of Electric

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