Electric vehicle startup Gravity is set to open Manhattan’s first True Fast Charging site on 42nd Street in the fall.
The 29-space street-level site located at Manhattan Plaza in Midtown, under license from Related Companies, will have its own dedicated entrance on 42nd street and offer charging options for every use case — from fast-charging in minutes to overnight charging for long-term parkers.
Deploying state-of-the-art innovation in charging hardware, cables, cable management, authentication and payment processing, as well as uniform user-friendly user interfaces, Gravity said it will provide “a flexible, convenient and seamless experience to EV drivers” which they plan to replicate at dozens of sites across the five boroughs.
“This is a technological leap for big cities like New York that have struggled to meet demand for charging in space-constrained indoor garages. We’re opening the first True Fast Charging in Manhattan, and now we are poised to rapidly scale our solution across New York City and beyond,” said Moshe Cohen, founder and CEO of Gravity.
“For every EV driver who has experienced false advertising, lackluster charging speeds or inaccessible locations, we’re here to revolutionize your experience. Tesla has set the bar with its V3 Superchargers. Gravity aims to surpass that experience for all EVs, and to bring it to the heart of densely populated cities.”
Gravity plans to rapidly scale the model with dozens of public parking garages across the city, including a portfolio of new designs that can adapt to even the most space-constrained site.
Adjacent to the Lincoln Tunnel, this first facility will offer charging for EV fleets and private electric vehicles in the heart of Midtown while also serving as a charging hub for Gravity’s new fleet of all-electric yellow taxis.
The deal with Related is the first in a series of new partnerships with major commercial and residential owners. Gravity has surveyed hundreds of parking garages across New York City, analyzed their space and power constraints, and developed a portfolio of design solutions to retrofit them for EV charging on a scale never attempted before.
“Related is a champion of environmentally conscious design, construction and operation in real estate and remains devoted to reducing the environmental footprint at our properties,” said Jeff Brodsky, vice chairman of Related Companies. “We are proud to be a part of this monumental moment in offering sustainable, True Fast Charging in Manhattan through Gravity and its unique innovation.”
“In New York City and Westchester, transportation is the second largest and the only growing source of carbon emissions,” said Raghusimha Sudhakara, Con Edison’s director of Demonstration Projects and Electric Vehicles. “That’s why in addition to providing incentives to make EV ownership more affordable, we’re making charging more convenient for New Yorkers by supporting projects like Gravity’s True Fast Charging in Manhattan. It’s a win-win for our customers and the environment.”
As part of Gravity and Related Companies’ mission to electrify cities, Gravity charging spaces are all open to the public. Parking is also complementary while vehicles are being charged. At Manhattan Plaza, charging will be priced at the cost of providing the electricity, without markup.
Formed in 2020 with a full suite of mobile technology, Gravity is the next generation BEV fleet and distributed energy infrastructure operator, with an in-cabin experience tailored to the needs of the modern traveler and the charging spaces of the future. In Spring 2021, Gravity laid the land as a pioneer in sustainability entering NY as a taxi operator making in-cabin technology and services available to all medallion owners and drivers.
