Public adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has grown, but the infrastructure for charging vehicles in urban settings still needs to catch up. Cities must address this issue if they want to spur greater adoption of EVs. This guide is a resource for New York City and other local governments looking to pilot curbside charging as the first step in a broader strategy for building a supportive EV ecosystem.  

Charging electric vehicles in areas with limited off-street parking – where charging equipment is typically installed – creates a perceptual and logistical barrier for prospective electric vehicle drivers who primarily park on-street.

Targeted use of curbside Level 2 EV charging stations is one of the most powerful ways local governments can support a shift to EVs for car-dependent residents and commuters with limited access to off-street parking. 

Our plan offers a holistic strategy for deploying curbside EV charging in New York City in places that can support new street furniture and in contexts modeled to have current and future demand. The guide has a two-part structure. The first is the planning framework, which provides planning principles to guide citywide rollouts. The second is the deployment guidelines, which provide a flexible, scalable approach for finding and adapting suitable sites. 

WXY and Barretto Bay Strategies led the study in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation and the Mayor's Office of Sustainability. The effort united transportation planners, sustainability experts, and urban designers to tackle the challenge of bringing EV charging to city streets. A strategic alliance with Con Edison, the city's primary utility provider, ensured the deployment plan would mesh with existing power infrastructure while advancing sustainability goals. 

The Curb Enthusiasm: Deployment Guide for On-Street Electric Vehicle Charging outlines New York City's strategy for building a charging network to achieve its 2050 sustainability goals. This plan directly informed NYC's pilot project, resulting in the installation of 100 on-street charging stations. WXY contributed to the pilot project by crafting the planning and design guidelines. Beyond serving New York City, the report offers a replicable model for cities globally, paving the way for the widespread adoption of electric vehicle infrastructure.