Revel has officially opened its first fast-charging electric vehicle (EV) station in Manhattan, located at Pier 36 on the Lower East Side. This facility marks the first fully public, 24/7 charging station in the borough, addressing the ongoing challenge of limited charging infrastructure for EV users in the area.
Developed in partnership with New York City’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the station features ten 320 kW chargers manufactured by Kempower. With space constraints in Manhattan complicating EV ownership, access to public chargers has remained a significant hurdle for both individual drivers and rideshare services.
âHundreds of thousands of rideshare and taxi trips go in and out of Manhattan every day. With our new Pier 36 Charging Station, Revel is bringing the fastest charging on the market directly to those drivers so they can access EVs easier â saving them money and saving us all from breathing in more needless car pollution,â said Frank Reig, Revelâs Co-Founder and CEO. âThis is Revelâs first in the borough, but definitely not our last!â
Revel has been planning the Manhattan charging station for some time and hinted at its development last year. With the opening of this station, Revel now operates a total of 64 public fast chargers across all five boroughs of New York City. The company aims to significantly expand its network, with a goal of 300 active chargers by the end of 2025.
Local officials recognize the significance of this new station in promoting environmentally friendly transportation options. State Senator Brian Kavanagh commented, âThe introduction of this first 24/7 public fast charging station in Manhattan represents a pivotal step in our journey toward a zero-emission transportation network.â
NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball added, âThe opening of Revelâs first Manhattan charging station will help New York City become an innovator in accelerating low-carbon alternatives in the transportation sector.â
Furthermore, Assemblymember Grace Lee emphasized the station’s role in improving local air quality, stating, âBy expanding access to high-speed EV chargers in Lower Manhattan, we are not only promoting green technology but also reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality for our community.â
As the demand for sustainable transportation continues to rise, the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission reported issuing approximately 10,000 new licenses for electric-for-hire vehicles in October 2023, contributing to over 1.5 million EV rides per month, which accounts for more than 10 percent of total rideshare activity.