The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Revel today announced the opening of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) that more than doubles the airport’s available EV chargers. The 24 new chargers were funded and installed by Revel and Con Edison through its PowerReady program for electric vehicle infrastructure incentives helped. The new charging station is located within the airport’s for-hire vehicle (FHV) hold lot and is accessible via the Van Wyck Expressway or Belt Parkway.
The additional chargers help meet growing demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at Port Authority facilities, which support the agency’s industry-leading sustainability initiatives. The agency has specified plans to reach its ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through its comprehensive net-zero roadmap. That goal encompasses both the agency’s own emissions as well as those originating through the wide transportation ecosystem supporting its facilities. Traditional fast chargers will enable the transition of gas-powered to electric vehicles and contribute towards a reduction of approximately 3,720 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
“As we work toward a cleaner, more sustainable future, expanding access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure is a crucial step in reducing emissions,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “These fast chargers at JFK are a significant step forward in our broader efforts to support a greener transportation network.”
“The Port Authority and its private partners like Revel are leading the charge in building a net-zero future, and this latest expansion of two dozen more fast chargers at JFK is a major boost in that work,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “More access to electric vehicle charging equipment helps advance our sustainability goals and reaffirms our agency’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.”
With the new Revel charging station at the FHV lot adjacent to JFK Building 141, JFK now hosts a total of 46 EV fast charging ports that are operational at all times, helping to reduce charging wait times and improving traffic flow. Widely available, easily accessible charging infrastructure is crucial in facilitating the shift to electric vehicles. JFK’s 46 EV fast chargers for airport users will benefit both customers and FHV drivers seeking more fast-charging solutions.
In addition to working with the Port Authority at the JFK lot, Revel will install the largest public fast-charging lot near an airport in the nation, with 48 fast charging ports outside LaGuardia Airport to support airport users, FHV drivers and the surrounding community. That lot will be located at 90-10 Ditmars Boulevard in East Elmhurst, Queens, where it is expected to open later this year.
“Reliable fast charging at New York’s airports, where rideshare drivers start and end their most valuable trips, will make or break our city’s electrification mandate,” said Frank Reig, co-founder & CEO of Revel. “We’re proud to partner with the Port Authority to bring the city’s fastest chargers directly to those drivers, first at JFK and later this year at LGA.”
“With these fast chargers and the ones coming to LaGuardia later this year, we’re taking great strides down the path towards a more sustainable and affordable city,” said NYC Taxi & Limousine Commissioner David Do. “Our airports are by far the biggest trip generators for hardworking TLC drivers. By prioritizing development of these charging hubs, the Port Authority and Revel are not only making life easier for thousands of EV drivers who need them right now, but also for the tens of thousands who will be converting to zero-emission vehicles in the coming years.”
“At Kempower, we are committed to accelerating the transition to electric mobility with our reliable and user-friendly DC fast charging solutions,” said Monil Malhotra, president of Kempower Inc., which manufactured the chargers installed by Revel. “We are proud to support the expansion of EV infrastructure at JFK Airport, ensuring that for-hire vehicle drivers and travelers have access to fast, efficient charging whenever they need it.”
“We’re proud that our PowerReady incentive program is enabling the expansion of JFK International Airport’s public fast charging network, helping to make the transition to electric vehicles more accessible for New Yorkers as well as visitors to our dynamic region,” said Raghu Sudhakara, vice president of distributed resource integration at Con Edison. “Additionally, we’re building a new substation complex in eastern Queens that will support the Port Authority’s broader electrification of the airport, helping the state meet its climate goals, as we maintain our nation-leading reliable electric service.”
Con Edison’s PowerReady incentive program supports the expansion of EV charging access by incentivizing buildout of a widespread EV charging network.
In addition to supporting public access of EV charging infrastructure, the Port Authority and its operational partners have collaborated to incorporate more electric vehicles within airport operations as well. Across the agency’s three major airports, 1,400 electric ground service vehicles and 775 electric ground service chargers are currently in use for equipment such as baggage tractors and airplane tows. Beyond EV infrastructure, the Port Authority has undertaken several other ambitious sustainability initiatives at its airports, including New York State’s largest rooftop solar array at JFK’s New Terminal One, the nation’s largest airport solar rooftop at Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A parking garage, a solar array on JFK’s long-term parking Lot 9, and a solar rooftop at LaGuardia Airport. The agency is also committed to electrifying its light duty fleet by 2028 and nearly all of its ground service equipment at airports converted to electric by 2035.
