Transportation

Cars pass over a busy bridge at night with a cityscape of illuminated high-rise buildings in the background.

Let's talk about transportation.

Transportation in New York

In New York State, fuel combustion from transportation accounts for:

The transportation sector accounts for 80% of petroleum usage and 26% of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State.

Transportation investments significantly influence economic growth, the rate that growth occurs, and the design and density of the built environment.

More needs to be done to meet the Climate Act emissions reduction targets.

An elevated train passes above a busy city street with high-rise buildings all around.

Options for electric vehicles (EVs) and other zero-emission vehicles are developing across the State, supported by increasing vehicle choice and public charging infrastructure availability.

Low-carbon modes of transportation include public transit, biking, walking, and light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), such as battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Converting to ZEVs isn’t just good for the environment – it also reduces the total cost of vehicle ownership through lower fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

Transportation Solutions

Different solutions for different transportation needs

Personal Cars

NYSERDA: What Powers Your Car?

As of June 2024, there were approximately 230,000 EVs on the road in New York State, and the numbers continue to grow.

Plug-in electric cars, which consist of the battery-powered car and the plug-in hybrid, are eligible for state and federal rebates. Electricity as a vehicle fuel is currently less expensive per mile than gasoline, and is forecasted to be for the foreseeable future. You can save even more money by charging your car when electricity prices are less expensive.

Hear more about electric vehicle performance from EV owners.

A woman uses a phone app at an electric vehicle charging station.

Micromobility

Many communities in New York lack affordable transportation options, which can affect qualify of life and job opportunities. Municipalities are mapping their communities and creating enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, smart growth development, electric transportation options such as e-bikes and electric shuttles, and market-based policies that support people who do not own cars and encourage lower-carbon transportation choices.

New York Clean Transportation Prizes and NYSERDA's Clean Mobility Program help inspire innovation and bring about new community-level solutions.



Light-Duty Fleets, Last-Mile Delivery, and Local Shuttle Services

Privately owned businesses are demonstrating leadership and expanding clean transportation options across New York State.

Click the button to the right to learn more.

With locations in East Hampton, Montauk, New Rochelle, Rockaways, Southampton, and Williamsburg, the expanding network of Circuit's electric shuttles provide on-demand transportation in places that lack public transportation infrastructure. Circuit hires and trains local drivers, and a mobile ride-request app supports smart stops and rider-pooling.

"Circuit gets people out of their cars, bridges transit gaps, reduces congestion, and promotes better air quality - in a sustainable, data-driven way."



Electric Buses

Most school and city buses in the U.S. still run on diesel fuel. The electric conversion is underway, but it's a significant task. Electric fleets require charging infrastructure and training and orientation for drivers and repair staff.

New York is working to electrify school district and municipal bus fleets.

Click the button to the right to learn more.

New York State’s school bus fleets are going electric. By 2027, all new school buses sold will be zero-emission—and by 2035, the State will have converted its entire school bus fleet to electric school buses, or ESBs. This important transition will reduce emissions that can harm our kids’ health, pollute the air in our communities, and contribute to climate change.

Learn more about how New York is funding electric school buses to cut emissions and costs in this video.

NYCSBUS is a non-profit that is innovating and building a framework to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission school buses in New York City and throughout the State. They take action, learn by doing with the best expertise available, document each aspect of the journey, and share lessons learned.

In New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the New York Power Authority are building critical infrastructure to power a zero-emissions bus fleet, including installing new bus charge points for new electric buses that operate in Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn.

The buses feature lightweight electric traction drive systems that allow buses to recover up to 90% of energy during braking. This regenerative braking reduces wear and tear on brakes and maximizes energy efficiency.

These buses are paid for with almost $70 million in formula funds from the Federal Transit Administration, including almost $20 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Summing It Up

Transportation

Transportation accounts for around one-quarter of statewide greenhouse gas emissions. Creating a transportation system that reduces emissions while increasing connectivity and access to jobs, schools, and services requires scaling up existing solutions, such as zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), while developing innovative technologies for hard-to-electrify modes of transit.

The transition to ZEVs is underway, supported by increasing vehicle choice and public charging infrastructure availability.

Learn more:

NYSERDA: What Powers Your Car?