Electric vehicles (EVs) have, over the years, become the norm in New York City. With over 16,500 EVs in the city as of 2017, this state boasts the largest number of EVs in all of America. This doesn’t come as a surprise, seeing as NYC has the highest population density of any major city in the United States.

With more than 27,000 people per square mile, you are bound to find more electric vehicles there than anywhere else. If you are an aspiring electric vehicle owner or already have one, read on to find out the essential things you should know about owning an electric vehicle in NYC.

You Get Rewarded for Charging Your Car

For the NYC municipality to better manage its electrical grid, SmartCharge Rewards are awarded to electric vehicle drivers each month. These rewards are given to drivers who charge their vehicles during off-peak hours. Additionally, those participating in this program are given a connectable car device. This device can help you check:

• Energy consumption
• Journey information
• Battery health
• Driving efficiency
• Admission into EV drivers communities

What About Charging?

So, suppose I buy an EV, where do I charge it? If you reside in a stand-alone home, you can easily install a charging station in your garage. Otherwise, you can find EV charging stations at any of the following:

• Apartment buildings that have charging ports in their parking bays
• Thousands of charging stations spread throughout the city,
• Public parking garages.

Please note that to charge your car at the above-mentioned EV charging stations, you will probably be required to pay a small fee.

Electric Vehicle Maintenance

Electric vehicles are pretty easy to maintain. As you might have guessed from their name, electric cars do not need gas. All you need is to charge it fully, and you can go for an average of about 181 miles, depending on the make and model. Additionally, you will not need to change the oil as frequently as you would for a regular car.

There are many other interesting facts about owning an electric vehicle in NYC. For instance, it’s now possible to share electric vehicles. Also, you can get incentives for purchasing and owning one. It’s truly an exciting time for electric cars in New York City.