New York City has selected Brooklyn startup It’s Electric to install 700 Level 2 curbside electric vehicle chargers across the five boroughs over the next three years, addressing an infrastructure gap for apartment residents and street-parkers, according to InsideEVs.
The rollout targets neighborhoods with high concentrations of Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers. While curbside charging is common in parts of Europe, dense American cities have lagged behind. Tiya Gordon, co-founder and chief operating officer of It’s Electric, told InsideEVs that outside of Los Angeles, major urban centers including New York, Boston, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia are charging deserts for motorists without private garages or driveways.
Did You Know? New York City’s previous curbside pilot program installed 88 Flo chargers, which Department of Transportation data showed were occupied by electric vehicles 70% of the time overall, reached up to 99% occupancy at some stations, and delivered power 85% of the time they were occupied.
Infrastructure Design and Neighborhood Placement
The new charging posts are engineered specifically for crowded city streets. According to It’s Electric, the stainless steel units lack dangling cords, screens, and credit card readers to minimize sidewalk clutter and satisfy city design standards. Rather than requiring separate utility connections, the chargers draw power directly from nearby apartment buildings, a method the company says reduces installation costs and speeds up deployment. Gordon stated that no more than two chargers will be placed on a single block, and all units will be manufactured in Queens.
This expansion supports the city’s broader transportation mandate to transition all rideshare vehicles to electric by 2030. Gordon noted that the city’s 80,000 rideshare drivers often face significant hurdles without neighborhood infrastructure. Without curbside options in areas like Flushing, Jackson Heights, or the Bronx, drivers are forced to travel to limited fast-charging stations, wait in long lines, pay 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, and drive two hours back to Manhattan, according to her statements.
Financial Growth and Future Outlook
Alongside the New York City contract announcement, It’s Electric disclosed that a recent funding round brought its total capital raised to $15 million. The startup currently operates 50 chargers with 700 customers, and has secured contracts in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia.
As the rollout proceeds, the city plans to replace the existing 88 pilot Flo chargers with It’s Electric hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chargers will be installed in New York City?
The city plans to install 700 Level 2 curbside chargers across the five boroughs over the next three years, according to InsideEVs.
How do the It’s Electric chargers receive power?
The chargers draw power directly from nearby apartment buildings rather than relying on separate utility hookups, which lowers installation costs and accelerates deployment, according to the company.
What are the design features of the new curbside posts?
The sleek stainless steel posts feature no dangling charging cords, screens, or credit card readers, and drivers must bring their own cords provided by the company.
How will this initiative affect rideshare drivers?
The rollout targets neighborhoods with high concentrations of Uber, Lyft, and taxi drivers to help the city meet its goal of transitioning all rideshare vehicles to electric by 2030, allowing drivers to recharge overnight where they park.
What happened to the previous pilot chargers?
The city previously installed 88 curbside Flo chargers through a pilot program, and officials expect to replace that equipment with It’s Electric units over time.
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