NYPA Announces "Clean Commute" Program

    NEW YORK--Oct. 17, 2001--The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is joining forces with Ford Motor Company to provide a clean, green alternative for the metropolitan New York commuter.
    NYPA and Ford's electric vehicle group, TH!NK Mobility, will launch the "NYPA/TH!NK Clean Commute," a commuter station car demonstration using the TH!NK city electric vehicle (EV). The project is designed to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion as well as promote national energy independence since electricity relies primarily on domestic fuel sources.
    "This initiative is a direct result of Governor George Pataki's environmental leadership which created the financial and technical support for developing and expanding the availability of EV's and other clean fueled vehicles. State tax credits, bond act financing and the Executive Order requiring clean vehicles in the state fleet have combined to present an unsurpassed array of incentives for environmentally sound transportation in New York State. Now, the Empire State will host the largest electric vehicle station-car demonstration in the nation," said Joseph J. Seymour, NYPA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
    Ford will lease the TH!NK city EV to commuters in Westchester, Queens, Putnam, Nassau, Suffolk and Rockland counties for $199 per month. "Clean Commute" participants will be able to use charging stations at commuter train stations lots, where their vehicles will be repowered during the workday and ready to go for the trip home. Participants will have the option to install charging at their homes to broaden the opportunity for greater vehicle use.
    "The TH!NK city is a two passenger city car designed exactly for programs such as "Clean Commute," said Rob Stevens, president of TH!NK mobility. "Battery electric vehicles are perfect for this kind of program where limited miles are driven each day. We're happy the state of New York continues to support alternative fuel solutions."
    "The TH!NK city EV not only offers an emission-free ride, it can also provide an all-electric commute when combined with electric-powered commuter trains. MTA commuter rail and subways are powered with electricity supplied by the Power Authority, " said Eugene W. Zeltmann, NYPA's President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Zeltmann also serves as Co-Chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas.
    NYPA, in partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road, will coordinate activities to insure sufficient rail station parking and charging stations. Additional support and funding will be provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Long Island Power Authority, the New York State Department of Transportation, New York City Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Energy.
    "Public transportation has always been the most environmentally responsible, cost-effective and time-efficient way to get around New York. Indeed, the MTA's subways, buses and commuter rail system, carrying 8 million people a day, is a big part of the pollution solution," said MTA Chairman Peter S. Kalikow. "The MTA is proud to help bring this all electric clean commute program to reality."
    "Governor Pataki is a strong advocate for using the State's resources to partner with communities and industries to preserve our environmental resources and promote economic development," said NYSERDA Chairman Vincent A. DeIorio. "This project is a perfect example of how we can achieve those goals. Electric vehicles will help us improve air quality in our urban centers, reduce our reliance on imported petroleum, and ultimately create new job opportunities in this emerging industry."
    "This is an excellent initiative," said LIPA Chairman Richard M. Kessel. "It's a great way to promote and demonstrate the environmental benefits of alternative energy vehicles. The program coincides with the goals of LIPA's Clean Energy Initiative, which is a multi-year, $170 million effort to promote energy conservation and efficiency, and develop alternative energy technologies.
    "The New York State Department of Transportation, with the fervent support of Governor Pataki, is proud to have played an integral role in the effort to offer mass transit users throughout suburban New York City an opportunity to take part in this exciting new clean commute program," New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph H. Boardman said. "Working together with state and local agencies and Ford Motor Company, we are confident that this program will promote both the environmental benefits of clean fuel vehicle technologies and the benefits of mass transit use."
    Regional municipalities that operate rail station parking such as the Town of New Castle, City of White Plains, Town of Huntington, Town of Southeast, Town of Oyster Bay, and the Town of Clarkstown have agreed to provide special parking in connection with the charging stations.
    Local Ford dealers will lease TH!NK city vehicles to consumers and provide maintenance services. The TH!NK city is a two-passenger EV with a range of approximately 50 miles and a top speed of approximately 55 miles per hour. It is manufactured by Ford's TH!NK Nordic subsidiary in Aurskog, Norway.
    The New York Power Authority's electric transportation program has deployed 200 electric vehicles, ranging from full-sized transit buses to battery-powered bicycles. Last year, NYPA-deployed electric vehicles reached the "Million EV-Mile" mark. NYPA was the first electric utility in the northeast to achieve that electric vehicle benchmark.