NYC Awards Exclusive Contract to It's Electric for 700-Port Charging Network

New York City has awarded an exclusive contract to Brooklyn-based startup It's Electric to establish a permanent curbside electric vehicle charging network. The initiative provides critical infrastructure for the city's massive fleet of for-hire drivers who lack access to private garages.

The project will deploy approximately 700 Level 2 chargers across all five boroughs. This expansion includes the installation of more than 600 new charging ports and the replacement of 88 existing pilot ports. To support local industry, the chargers will be manufactured in Queens, New York.

Supporting the Green Rides Mandate

The expansion is a strategic move by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to align with broader climate goals. Specifically, the rollout supports the 'Green Rides' initiative, which mandates that 100% of Uber and Lyft trips be zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible by 2030.

City officials are transitioning to a permanent network following high demand during initial trials. Some existing curbside pilot stations reached utilization rates as high as 99%, signaling an urgent need for accessible power in dense residential areas.

Ending the Charging Desert

For the city's approximately 80,000 rideshare drivers, the lack of off-street parking creates a significant barrier to EV adoption. Without neighborhood-based charging, drivers often travel long distances to expensive fast-charging hubs.

Tiya Gordon, cofounder and COO of It's Electric, noted that without curbside options in neighborhoods like the Bronx, Flushing, or Jackson Heights, drivers must endure long lines and pay high rates before driving back into Manhattan. By placing chargers directly on the curb in residential zones, the city removes the primary logistical hurdle for professional drivers transitioning to electric vehicles.

A New Urban Standard

The project represents a shift toward treating EV power as a basic utility. Nathan King, cofounder and CEO of It's Electric, compared the vision to the ubiquity of fire hydrants, stating that the goal is for EV chargers to become normal infrastructure that the city's children simply grow up with.

While the core network plan is set, the city continues to refine the rollout. The project's success depends on its ability to scale quickly enough to meet the 2030 deadline, ensuring that the transition to zero-emission rideshares remains economically viable for the drivers who power the city's transit economy.