BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. — Construction has begun on the first of five new high-speed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that will be open by the end of 2021 at Stewart’s Shops in the Capital and Adirondacks regions of New York State. The New York Power Authority (NYPA), which is managing the installation of the EVolve NY fast charging network, will complete the initial location, 13 miles southeast of Albany in Schodack, by September.
Any make or model of electric vehicle can use the fast chargers, and they can fully charge an EV in as little as 20 minutes. The additional sites are part of a statewide plan to decarbonizing the transportation sector and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050.
- Stewart’s Shops is No. 24 on CSP’s 2021 Top 202 ranking of c-stores by store count.
As part of NYPA’s EVolve NY clean energy initiative, additional charging stations will open in the fall at Stewart’s Shops locations throughout New York State in Moreau, Latham, Keene and Clifton Park. An additional four charging stations are planned for 2022.
“By partnering with EVolve NY, we are proud to offer our customers more options for ‘filling’ up their tanks. The 20 EVolve NY Chargers will grow our fast charging network to over 80 units. Stewart’s Shops is known for a quick in and out, and these fast chargers will provide the convenience our customers know and expect. As an energy provider for today and into the future, we have the ability to fuel any vehicle and grow our EV network at strategic locations,” said Gary Dake, president of Stewart’s Shops, Ballston Spa, N.Y.
The new charging stations are the latest steps Stewart’s Shops are taking to become more sustainable. Stewart’s Shops currently has three Tesla supercharging stations throughout the state with plans to expand the program. The chain uses solar energy at offsite locations in Halfmoon and Castle Creek, N.Y., and its manufacturing plant has 2,400 individual solar panels on the rooftop that offset 75% of the power at 50 locations. Stewart’s recycles more than six tons of cardboard daily and reduces waste with the use of reusable totes, dairy cases, ice cream baskets and bread trays used to make deliveries. In stores, customers can get a discount on coffee when they bring their reusable mugs.
“The partnership with Evolve NY is just one of the ways Stewart’s Shops is attaining a more sustainable future,” Dake said.
The five fast-charging stations will offer a total of 20 chargers. The first location, in Schodack, will be the 10nth installation in NYPA’s EVolve NY network. NYPA will construct, own and operate the hubs in coordination with Stewart’s site hosts.
“NYPA’s EVolve NY network is expanding across New York State and making it easier and more convenient for drivers to power their vehicles with clean energy sources,” said Gil Quiniones, president and CEO of NYPA. “Partnering with Stewart’s and other hosts that operate multiple sites will accelerate our efforts to promote emissions-free transportation and advance the state’s clean energy goals.”
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 United States. 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 to 30 minutes located every 50 miles or less.
NYPA announced its first venture with a multi-site host, c-store retailer Mirabito, in May. Those sites are in the Binghampton-Syracuse corridor. Other 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.
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