Local energy group tapped with helping charge state's electric vehicles

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New York State agencies have been charged with electrifying their fleet of vehicles. The initiative involves changing to current charging landscape and providing more places to plug in. One of the four companies recently awarded a contract is based out of Schenectady.

Livingston Energy Group is ramping up production after being awarded a contract with New York State Office of General Services to provide the state with more charging stations. The company manufactures commercial grade charging stations for electric vehicles.

Daniel Connelly, Director of Manufacturing Operations at Livingston Energy, said, "Our goal here is to be as efficient as possible in 45 minutes with three technicians to produce one unit."

From their charging equipment to the software that goes with it, the company plans on providing and installing more chargers as the state flips the switch to go all electric.

Kate Kruk, of Livingston Energy Group, explained, "Right now, New York State has invested and will be investing over $1 billion in infrastructure alone."

Tom Nitido, the Executive Deputy Commissioner at Office of General Services, added, "Governor Hochul has given us the charge of having a completely electrified fleet."

The task comes with an ambitious target goal: cleaner transportation by the year 2035.

"It's very important not to have too many vehicles and not enough charging or actually the reverse. So we are doing it in a way that's smart," Nitido said.

State employees will see a larger presence of the charging stations at the Empire State Plaza and the state campus with 200 already on the ground and another 500 in the works, according to the Office of General Services.

Krouk added, "What you're going to see more is parking lots, where people are all day, work places you'll see more charging infrastructure."

The state's annual electric show at the Empire State Plaza will be held May 21. Nitido tells NEWS10 it's a good opportunity for local governments and the public to see electric vehicles on display and explore how they work.