Governor Cuomo Announces New High-Speed Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Mirabito Convenience Stores in Central New York

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today the first of five planned high-speed electric vehicle charging hubs at multiple Mirabito Convenience Store locations in Central New York. Made possible by an agreement between Mirabito and the New York Power Authority, the new EVolve NY charging hubs will offer a total of 19 chargers at the five Mirabito sites. The first location, at an Oneonta Mirabito station, will be the seventh installation in NYPA’s EVolve NY statewide charging infrastructure network. The five hubs, operational by this fall, will offer emission-free electric charging to New Yorkers, helping to advance the Governor’s ambitious clean energy goals, including reducing carbon by 22 million tons through electrification and energy efficiency and an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“Public-private partnerships enable New York to build a network of fast, affordable and reliable electric vehicle public charging stations in a nimble and affordable way,” said Governor Cuomo. “Expanding high-speed charging in local markets across the state is a crucial step in encouraging more drivers to choose EVs. By expanding the acceptance of electric vehicles and making charging accessible, more New Yorkers will utilize this emission-free mode of transportation, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas pollution on New York State’s roadways.”

The Southside Oneonta location, unveiled today by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul who drove an EV to the new charger event, is the first site hosted by Mirabito Convenience Stores, a family-owned and operated energy retailer based in Binghamton which operates more than 100 convenience stores throughout Central New York. NYPA will install the full set of 19 chargers at Mirabito stores by this fall. Other Mirabito sites will be primarily located in the Binghamton – Syracuse corridor. Construction is set to begin in June and includes two locations in Syracuse, and stores in Castle Creek and Binghamton. NYPA will construct, own and operate the EVolve NY charging network in coordination with Mirabito site hosts.

“New York’s future will be fueled by clean, renewable energy, and electric vehicles are part of the foundation to achieving this goal,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “Today’s announcement of five new high-speed electric vehicle charging hubs at Mirabito Convenience Stores will help reduce carbon emissions and achieve significant savings in fuel cost, while encouraging New Yorkers to buy electric vehicles as we establish more charging stations. New York is committed to building back cleaner, greener and more resilient now and in the future.”

 

“NYPA is pleased that this partnership with Mirabito, our first venture with a multi-site host, will help us significantly expand our reach and make fast charging easily accessible to more communities,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “By working together to deploy high-speed chargers at prime locations throughout the state, we are making it easier for more drivers to opt for zero-emission vehicles, knowing they can travel long distances without having to worry about their next charge. NYPA is committed to a decarbonized future and healthier environment for all New Yorkers.”

The new chargers are part of NYPA’s EVolve NY charging infrastructure network being installed along key travel corridors and in urban areas to encourage the adoption of  EVs. EVolve NY will install up to 150 chargers across New York State by the end of 2021, which will give New York the third largest open-access (available to all EVs) 150kW+ fast charging network in the U.S. After this EVolve NY buildout phase is complete, New Yorkers will be able to drive any EV from New York City to Montauk, from Albany to Montreal, and from Binghamton to Buffalo with fast chargers capable of recharging their vehicles in 15-30 minutes located every 50 miles or less.

EVolve NY sites opened since last fall include LaGrangeville, Watertown, Malone, Schroon Lake, Fairport and the largest public charging hub in the Northeast at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Mirabito: A Trendsetter in Energy Innovation 

Mirabito has a long history of providing energy services in the Central New York region. The family business began in 1927 when James Mirabito began delivering coal to residents in Norwich, NY. Over time, the business continued to evolve and grow, adding home heating oil and propane to its services. By 1983, Mirabito brought gas stations and convenience stores into its portfolio, currently operating 108 locations. The addition of EV charging stations at several locations marks a new era with customers throughout Central New York who will now be able to take advantage of emission-free electric refueling options.

“We are excited about our partnership with Evolve NY as we know electric ‘fueling’ is an emerging market and we want to be part of it,” said CEO Joe Mirabito. “Throughout our nearly 100 years in the energy business, we have come to understand the value of adapting and evolving as customers’ needs do. If our customers are moving in this direction, then so are we.”

The Oneonta site at 4969 NY State Route 23, will have three 150kW Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC) stations and one 350kW charger, which is capable of charging a compatible vehicle at speeds up to 20 miles per minute. Two of the charging stations will be equipped with both fast charging connectors, Combined Charging System (CCS) and CHAdeMO, so all electric vehicles, including Tesla cars with an adapter, can plug in. One parking space meets ADA compliance. The chargers include “Plug and Charge” functionality, a feature that allows certain vehicles to communicate the owner’s payment credentials to the charger – allowing for a faster, more convenient transaction.

The Mirabito convenience store is open 24 hours and offers a public rest room, car wash, food and beverages. The site is close to several stores and restaurants where customers can walk and do shopping while their vehicle charges. A Dunkin’ location will also open at the Route 23 site this year.

The Oneonta site is also NYPA’s first location developed and operated in collaboration with Electrify Commercial, a business unit of Electrify America designed to provide customized end-to-end charging solutions to businesses, utilities, and government entities. EVolve NY customers can conveniently pay for use at these stations using credit or debit cards, or by using the Electrify America mobile app, which connects drivers to the network’s more than 2,600 DC fast chargers nationwide. Drivers will also be supported by Electrify America’s 24/7 customer contact center.

“Electrify Commercial is infusing constant innovation, an unmatched network and an unwavering focus on our customers to help organizations rapidly expand the availability of ultra-fast charging across New York and the U.S. and Canada,” said Rachel Moses, director of Commercial Services, Green Cities & Business Development at Electrify America. “Collaborations with forward-thinking organizations like the New York Power Authority are helping accelerate sustainable mobility by deploying turn-key, innovative charging solutions to commercial businesses who are prioritizing an electric future.”

New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) assisted NYPA with the engineering and design of the electrical system that supports the charging stations.

Carl A. Taylor, president & CEO of NYSEG, said, “NYSEG is proud to support the state’s initiative to expand access to EV charging stations across our service area like the one unveiled today in Oneonta. We are committed to helping our customers prepare for the new energy future and support the state’s energy goals related to increased access to EV charging stations. The electrification of the transportation sector will help reduce carbon emissions and promote a more sustainable energy future for our customers and all New Yorkers.”

The new installation also supports the Governor’s “Make Ready” program that is funded by investor-owned utilities to site EV charging stations in key locations and support expanded EV use, with a goal of deploying more than 50,000 chargers by 2025. New York’s $1 billion investment in electrifying New York’s transportation sector is growing access and availability to clean transit and electric transportation to benefit all New Yorkers, including those in low-income or disadvantaged areas, by reducing emissions to create cleaner air and healthier communities. These investments and electrification efforts under programs including Make Ready, EVolve NY, and Charge NY, in collaboration with the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, the New York State Department of Public Service, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will help the state reach its aggressive clean energy goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

Information about the EVolve NY fast chargers at Mirabito locations, and others coming online, can be found on PlugShare or by downloading the Chargeway app.

New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Plan

Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieving its mandated goal of a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York’s unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including over $4 billion invested in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector, a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while meeting a goal to deliver 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities, and advancing progress towards the state’s 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

About EVolve NY
EVolve NY is the New York Power Authority’s initiative to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) throughout the state. The program creates private-sector partnerships to expand fast-charging infrastructure and make EVs more user-friendly for all New Yorkers. NYPA is installing fast chargers along major interstate corridors, in five major cities and at New York City airports. EVolve NY supports New York State’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and is a key pillar of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Charge NY 2.0 program to launch 10,000 public EV charging stations by 2021. You can contact us for more information or find it here.

About Mirabito
Family-owned and operated, the Mirabito Family of Companies operates in nine states with multiple divisions including Home Energy Products and Services, Convenience Stores, Wholesale Energy Products and Services, Natural Gas and Electric and Mirabito Truck Repair. More information is available here.