ChargePoint, Inc. has launched one the first of 80 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations it will install around N.Y., through a $1 million incentive from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The EV charging station installed at The Solaire in Battery Park City is ChargePoint's first installation of what will be part of a NYSERDA EV charging station investment. The Solaire, developed in 2003 by the Albanese Org., is one of the nation's first LEED Gold-certified residential buildings. "Upgrading the city's EV infrastructure to new, universal ChargePoint chargers is imperative to the future success of a sustainable society. By working with ChargePoint and NYSERDA to bring new chargers to our LEED-certified rental properties in Manhattan, the Solaire, the Verdesian and the Vanguard Chelsea, the Albanese Org. hopes to inspire more drivers to consider electric vehicles, while providing current adopters with new access to convenient charging locations," said Russell Albanese, chairman of the Albanese Org. "The partnership of ChargePoint and NYSERDA has been an excellent example of the public and private sectors working together to make a great contribution." Last year, governor Cuomo announced $4.4 million being awarded to 10 EV companies, municipalities and other entities, including ChargePoint, to bring 325 charging stations to New York. Earlier this year, governor Cuomo announced Charge New York, a new initiative to promote EVs through investing $50 million over five years. The program calls for investment in 3,000 public and workplace charging stations by 2018, plus other steps meant to encourage the growth of electric vehicle ownership. "Through governor Cuomo's 'Charge NY' program, the state is taking a proactive approach to investing in an EV infrastructure that will encourage New Yorkers to transition from less efficient vehicles to electric vehicles," said Francis Murray Jr., president and CEO, NYSERDA. "Given the amount of emissions produced by the transportation sector, this statewide EV infrastructure will allow the state to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions." New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced a plan to make up to 20 percent (or 10,000 spaces) of new New York City parking spaces EV-ready over the next seven years. EVs will play a key role in reducing dependency on foreign oil while improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. ChargePoint is the leading provider of EV charging in New York City with nearly 200 EV charging stations already installed. ChargePoint has worked with private garage owners and commercial hosts to pilot Level 2 charging throughout the state of New York. For EV drivers, ChargePoint-enabled locations are included on all ChargePoint mobile phone applications for iPhone and Android. These ChargePoint mobile apps provide an easy way to locate stations near any specified address, get turn-by-turn directions, and start and stop a charging session directly from a smart phone. Additionally, these apps allow drivers to utilize ChargePoint's station reservation feature. Drivers can locate reservable stations, and then make, view, and cancel a reservation directly from a smart phone. "New York is laying the foundation to become a leader in the United States for EVs," said Pat Romano, president and CEO of ChargePoint. "The majority of residents in New York City live in apartments and without this kind of public infrastructure investment, residents would not be able to buy electric vehicles." Shown (from left) are: Frank Murray, CEO of NYSERDA; Russell Albanese principal of the Albanese Org.; Pat Romano, CEO of ChargePoint; and Ari Kahn, electric vehicle policy analyst of mayor Bloomberg's office of sustainably.