Connect with us

Published

on

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) recently shared extensive plans to support the influx of EVs in the area by deploying four DC fast chargers as part of its city-operated fast-charging network. With nearly 50,000 chargers planned by 2030 as part of an ambitious plan, NYC’s government looks to build one of the largest municipal charging networks in the country.

NYC is a town that needs no introduction. With the largest population in the US, New York City’s 8.5 million residents are switching to electric vehicles quickly — those who actually drive, at least.

To support this shift toward zero-emission transportation, the NYC DOT and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) have shared ambitious plans to support EV drivers with charging solutions throughout the city.

The municipal organizations took a step this past June when they unveiled a curbside Level 2 charging pilot project in the city.

Following a recent announcement from the NYPA, the group’s efforts alongside charging network EVconnect look to expand DC fast charging options for EV drivers in NYC.

NYC EV charging
Source: “Electric Vehicle Registration Map,” New York State Energy Research and Development Authority: 2021

NYC looks to become largest municipal EV charging network

In a recent release from the NYPA alongside the NYC DOT and EVconnect, the group has successfully installed four of 28 planned DC fast charging plugs within city-owned municipal garages. The initial goal for this city-owned and operated charging network is 80 plugs by 2025.

This initial rollout of DC fast chargers exists as part of a much larger and holistic EV charging strategy for NYC, also recently shared. The ambitious program is outlined in Electrifying New York: An Electric Vehicle Vision Plan for New York City.

The recently shared plan outlines ambitious, city-wide climate goals for the next decade, citing that NYC will need 400,000 drivers to switch to EVs by 2030 and will work to provide the charging infrastructure to support them.

The plan also shares strategies to leverage government resources to garner private investment, with an end game of implementing 40,000 public Level 2 chargers and 6,000 DC fast chargers throughout NYC by 2030. The program consists of eight initiatives:

  • Grow the city-operated fast charging network to over 80 plugs by 2025.
  • Equip 20% of all spaces in municipal public parking lots and garages with level 2 chargers by 2025, increasing to 40% by 2030.
  • NYC DOT will install a network of 1,000 curbside charge points across the five boroughs by 2025, increasing to 10,000 by 2030.
  • Develop a plan for a Level 2 and Level 1 user-supplied cord charging system that integrates with existing street infrastructure.
  • Advocate for funding and supportive policies from the federal government.
  • Work with utilities and regulators to make it easier and cheaper to install EV chargers.
  • Engage with EV stakeholders to better understand evolving EV market, technology, and charging needs through an industry day.
  • Increase public awareness of EVs and charging opportunities through the PlugNYC marketing program.

The release states that there are 117 fast chargers across the city as of this summer. With four more in place in municipal garages today (3×50 kW, 1×150 kW) and dozens more on the way, NYC still has a long way to go to reach nearly 50,000 EV chargers by 2030.

Still, local government remains optimistic. Ben Furnas, Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability, spoke:

It’s time to end the age of the internal combustion engine. Climate action means investing in pedestrian-friendly streets, interconnected protected bike lanes, reliable transit, and electrifying the vehicles on our roads. The Electrifying New York plan, including its ambitious vision for a new network of public EV chargers, will play a key role in reducing climate-changing greenhouse gases, lowering the risk of respiratory illnesses, reducing noise, and ending our reliance on fossil fuels. Thank you to the NYC Department of Transportation for their leadership and collaboration on this critical step.


Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

‘Obsessed’ security guard hatched plan to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby, court told

Published

on

By

'Obsessed' security guard hatched plan to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby, court told

An “obsessed” security guard plotted to break into Holly Willoughby’s family home and knock her out with chloroform so he could kidnap, rape and murder her, a court has heard.

Gavin Plumb, 37, allegedly hatched the “graphic” and “sexually motivated” plans over more than two years as he tried to recruit accomplices online.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard he boasted of trying to abduct two air hostesses from trains and falsely imprisoning two 16-year-old girls to “bolster his credibility”.

Killing Willoughby was suspect’s ‘ultimate fantasy’, court told | Trial as it happened

Prosecutors allege his past convictions – which included tying a teenager’s hands behind her back with rope and tape, and using an imitation firearm – showed he knew “what it would take to terrify and overpower a woman”.

But Plumb, from Harlow, in Essex, unwittingly disclosed his plans to an undercover US police officer, who alerted the authorities in the UK and disrupted his plans to carry out “catastrophic violence” against Willoughby, the court heard.

A jury was told he had more than 10,000 images of the former This Morning host on his mobile phone when he was arrested in October last year, while officers found two sealed bottles of chloroform, along with a “kidnap kit”.

Police also found “a list of celebrities” in his bedside drawer, along with folded-up images of famous people, including Willoughby, on top of his wardrobe.

Gavin Plumb appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court. Pic: PA/Elizabeth Cook
Image:
Gavin Plumb appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court. Pic: PA/Elizabeth Cook

Plumb, who appeared in the dock wearing a light grey sweater and dark tracksuit bottoms, denies charges of soliciting murder, incitement to kidnap and incitement to rape between December 2021 and October last year.

Willoughby, who is not attending the trial, has waived her automatic right to anonymity, which all alleged victims of sexual offences or related charges are entitled to.

The 43-year-old announced in October last year that she was stepping down from This Morning after 14 years on the ITV show, but has since hosted Dancing On Ice 2024, and is to present a Netflix show.

Holly Willoughby during a photo call for Dancing On Ice 2023 at the ITV Studios, Bovingdon Airfield, in Hemel Hempstead. Picture date: Wednesday January 11, 2023.
Image:
Holly Willoughby is not attending the trial. Pic: PA

Jurors were told she has never met Plumb, who had been planning an attack on her for “some time”, talking with an online contact, Marc, who is believed to have been based in Ireland, about launching a “home invasion” as far back as 2021.

They shared “deep fake” pornographic images of Willoughby as well as images of her home, the court heard.

Plumb later discussed trying to get on to a tour of the ITV studios to get close to her or using his training as a security guard to get a job protecting her, prosecutors said.

Plumb also shared a picture of an empty space or “dungeon” that he said was “big enough for a bed”, while Marc said her “screams could not be heard for miles”, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said.

Read more on Sky News:
Four-day heat health alert comes into force
Princess Anne in hospital with minor injuries

“It was not just the ramblings of a fantasist,” she said. “The defendant had carefully planned what he would do and how he would do it, purchasing items that would assist him in carrying out the attack.”

But when his plans did not move forward in the way he had hoped, he began unwittingly talking to a US undercover police officer referred to as David Nelson in October last year, the court heard.

The officer, from the Owatonna Police Department, in Minnesota, was monitoring an online group called “Abduct lovers” involving chats about kidnap, torture and murder.

Calling himself “BigBear”, Plumb posted pictures of Willoughby and said he had a “load of info” on her, including when she has security and “what time she gets up in the morning”, the court heard.

When asked if he was serious, Plumb shared a video, which was played in court, showing items laid out on his bed including hand and ankle shackles, a ball gag, rope, metal cable ties, and two sets of handcuffs.

In other messages, he described the plan to use chloroform on her and her husband, the television producer Dan Baldwin, before tying her up and kidnapping Willoughby.

When asked what will happen at the end, Plumb said: “Slit her throat, clear her out and dispose of it,” the jury was told.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

The undercover officer alerted the FBI and UK police, who arrested Plumb over an alleged conspiracy to kidnap Willoughby.

Officers said he was “shocked” but said: “I’m not gonna lie. She is a fantasy of mine.”

Ms Morgan said it is likely Plumb may suggest “this is all just a fantasy” during his trial, but she asked jurors if the messages he exchanged with others are the “talk of a fantasist” or if the “dark depravity” suggests he meant what he said.

The trial, which is expected to last for two weeks, continues.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Charli XCX warns fans to stop chanting about Taylor Swift

Published

on

By

Charli XCX warns fans to stop chanting about Taylor Swift

Singer Charli XCX has warned her fans to stop chanting “Taylor is dead” at her gigs.

The British star shared a statement on social media following reports that members of the audience were shouting about Taylor Swift at a gig in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“Can the people who do this please stop. Online or at my shows,” Charli wrote after the chanting was highlighted by one of her fans.

 Taylor Swift performs her first London concert at Wembley Stadium, during the Eras Tour. Picture date: Friday June 21, 2024. Ian West/PA Wire
Image:
Taylor Swift has just performed three Eras tour shows at Wembley. Pic: Ian West/PA

She added: “It is the opposite of what I want and it disturbs me that anyone would think there is room for this in this community.

“I will not tolerate it.”

It came after a fan tagged the star in an Instagram message that said: “Your Brazilian fans have been showing toxic behaviour by screaming ‘Taylor is dead!’ in your concerts and events related to you.”

Charli released her sixth album, Brat, earlier in June – but was kept off the top spot in the UK by Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, which has charted at number one for seven non-consecutive weeks since its release in April.

The British singer, who supported Swift on her Reputation tour in 2018, is also engaged to The 1975 drummer George Daniel.

The US star was previously linked to the band’s frontman Matt Healy in 2023, before her relationship with current partner Travis Kelce.

Read more:
Taylor Swift v The Beatles: Who wins?
Eras tour in pictures as show hits UK

Taylor Swift tube map published
Sabrina Carpenter breaks Ariana Grande’s UK chart record

Some of Charli’s fans have speculated that one of her new songs, Sympathy Is A Knife – which has lyrics including the lines “This one girl taps my insecurities” and “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show” – is about Swift.

There has also been speculation that Swift references Healy in tracks on The Tortured Poets Department.

On Sunday, Swift performed the latest show of her record-breaking Eras tour at Wembley – which featured a surprise cameo appearance from Kelce.

Sir Paul McCartney was also among those in the crowd.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Rapper Foolio shot and killed while celebrating 26th birthday in Tampa, Florida

Published

on

By

Rapper Foolio shot and killed while celebrating 26th birthday in Tampa, Florida

Rapper Foolio has been shot and killed while celebrating his 26th birthday in Tampa, Florida.

The musician, whose real name was Charles Jones, was pronounced dead after police were called to a Holiday Inn in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to Sky News’ US partner NBC News.

Foolio was reportedly inside a vehicle in the hotel’s car park when he was shot during an “ambush”, his lawyer Lewis Fusco said.

Another vehicle nearby was also hit.

Three other victims were taken to hospital and are all said to be in a stable condition.

Police are still investigating the motive and working to identify those involved.

The night he died Jones was celebrating his 26th birthday, Mr Fusco confirmed.

Jones had earlier shared footage of his partying on his social media accounts, including on Instagram, where he had one million followers.

He uploaded an invitation to a pool party on Saturday evening and told his followers to directly message him for the address.

Later that night, he posted that police had “shut us down and kicked us out” of their Airbnb.

His lawyer said in a statement that Jones then relocated to the Holiday Inn where the attack took place.

The scene of the shooting. Pic: NBC
Image:
The scene of the shooting. Pic: NBC

Just a few hours before the shooting, Jones wrote: “Best birthday everrrr. Appreciate everybody who pulled up we turnt up till we couldn’t nomo.

“We otw to the show now yall pull-up.”

Read more from Sky News:
Charli XCX asks fans to stop Taylor Swift chant

Pirates Of The Caribbean actor killed by shark
Swift sends fans into frenzy with boyfriend stunt

In April, when announcing the release of his latest album Resurrection, Jones posted that he had already survived “multiple attempts” on his life.

The rapper, who had nearly one million monthly listeners on Spotify at the time of the shooting, had been making music since 2015.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Mr Fusco described him as “a kid who grew up in challenging circumstances, determined to defy the odds by any means possible and succeed in all that he did”.

He added that Jones “became someone I deeply respected for his authenticity and I considered a friend”.

Continue Reading

Trending