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In short: In TLC's 2024 driver survey, 65% of EV drivers said they mostly charge at public fast chargers. As a TLC-licensed driver you can get 15% off at NYC DOT-owned charging sites, including its five fast-charging sites, by signing up through TLC's form and the EV Connect app. Big fast-charging hubs are run by Tesla, Revel and Electrify America, including at JFK and LaGuardia. Some sites are much busier than others: in TLC's data, the DOT site on White Plains Road in the Bronx averaged 75% use (it opened in October 2025), while Delancey-Essex in Manhattan averaged 16% over six months.
Charger lists change every week. Use this page to plan, then check a live app (PlugShare, EV Connect, the network's own app, or the U.S. DOE station locator) before you drive there.
Charger types in plain words
TLC's EV charging FAQ explains the three levels:
| Type | Power | What TLC says it gives you | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Household outlet (120 V) | Up to 5 miles of range per hour; up to two days for a full charge | Home |
| Level 2 | 240 V | Up to 25 miles of range per hour | Home, garages, NYC DOT curbside spots |
| DC fast (Level 3) | Over 480 V | Can reach 80% in under 30 minutes | Charging hubs, municipal lots, airports |
For a working driver, Level 2 is for overnight or off-shift charging. Fast charging is for topping up between shifts. TLC's 2024 Electrification in Motion report found drivers prefer to charge at the start or end of the day rather than mid-shift.
Plugs. Level 1 and 2 use the round J1772 plug. Non-Tesla fast chargers use CCS (some also CHAdeMO). Teslas need an adapter for non-Tesla chargers, and some Tesla Superchargers are open to all cars while others are "Teslas only". The station list below shows which.
The NYC DOT sites with the TLC 15% discount
TLC drivers can get 15% off at DOT-owned charging stations through the EV Connect app (TLC FAQ). TLC's February 2026 review lists the five fast-charging sites NYC DOT operates and how busy each was:
What the numbers tell you: the Bronx site peaked at 89% use in December 2025, so expect a wait there. Delancey-Essex in Manhattan had the most spare capacity (it peaked at 24%). TLC says the Bronx "remains the borough with the least access to fast charging".
How to sign up for the discount
TLC's review says more than 250 drivers signed up for the DOT discount in the year to February 2026.
Airports and the big hubs
TLC's February 2026 review says "airports remain an important location for drivers to obtain trips". Fast chargers listed at or next to the airports in NYS Open Data (October 11, 2026):
| Location | Network | Fast ports | Who can use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK, cell phone lot area (130th Pl & Hangar Rd) | Revel | 12 | CCS and Tesla plugs |
| JFK (130th Pl between E & W Hangar Rd) | Electrify America (EVolve NY) | 10 | CCS and CHAdeMO |
| JFK (150th Ave & 147th St) | Tesla | 12 | Teslas only |
| LaGuardia, Lot GP-1 | Electrify America (EVolve NY) | 12 | CCS |
Airport sites follow the Port Authority's rules for where you may wait and park. Don't leave the car unattended at a charger beyond what the posted rules allow.
Large hubs elsewhere include Revel sites in Bedford-Stuyvesant (25 fast ports), Long Island City (14) and South Williamsburg (15), and Tesla Superchargers open to all cars in the Bronx (East Gun Hill Rd, 24), Brooklyn (Bay Parkway) and Queens (Springfield Blvd), per the same Open Data list. "Open to all" Tesla sites still need a car and app that work with them; check before you go.
Where chargers are, by borough
Fast charging is spread unevenly. Queens has the most fast ports; Manhattan has the most Level 2 ports but few fast ones. TLC counted 235 Level 2 and 117 fast chargers added in the year to February 2026, most of them in Queens (125 Level 2, 58 fast) and the Bronx (33 fast).
Where the trips start matters too. The map shows pickups by taxi zone over the last 12 months of trip data:
TLC's review names Jamaica and Jackson Heights in Queens and the Grand Concourse corridor in the Bronx as areas with many drivers, busy chargers and room for more. NYC DOT's curbside Level 2 chargers in Queens averaged 73% use, and one in Jackson Heights 97%.
Discounts and programs
- NYC DOT fast sites: 15% off for TLC drivers (above).
- Con Edison SmartCharge New York: cash incentives for charging during off-peak hours, mostly useful for home charging. TLC counted 3,350 TLC-licensed registrants.
- App offers: Uber and Lyft run their own charging deals from time to time. TLC's review says Uber in February 2026 announced incentives for companies to install chargers. Check your app.
- Home charger installation: TLC's FAQ points owner-drivers to Con Edison's PowerReady program.
Tips that save time
- Keep the battery between 20% and 80%, TLC's FAQ advises: charging slows above 80%.
- Precondition in cold weather. TLC recommends warming the battery at least 30 minutes before charging; cold batteries charge slower.
- Don't park in a curbside charging spot unless you are charging. NYC DOT says those spots are for actively charging EVs and others may be ticketed by NYPD.
- Plan charging into your hours. Time at a charger is unpaid time: TLC's minimum pay formula is based on trip miles and minutes, so the minutes you spend charging are not paid directly. Charging at the start or end of a shift keeps your best earning hours free. See FHV driver minimum pay.
- Compare costs. Use the EV savings calculator with your home and public prices, and read EV or hybrid for Uber.
For the numbers behind the network (counts, growth, use by borough), see EV charging statistics and EV fleet statistics. If a base or fleet charges you for charging that your agreement doesn't list, see can a base charge fees not in my agreement?.
Frequently asked questions
How do TLC drivers get the 15% charging discount?
TLC says to complete its online form with your name, TLC license number and the email you will use for your EV Connect account. The discount applies at NYC DOT-owned fast-charging sites through the EV Connect app.
Which NYC DOT fast-charging sites give the TLC discount?
TLC says the 15% discount applies at DOT-owned charging stations. TLC's February 2026 review lists five NYC DOT-operated fast-charging sites: Court Square Municipal Garage (Long Island City), Delancey and Essex Municipal Garage (Manhattan), Queens Borough Hall Municipal Garage (Kew Gardens), White Plains Road Municipal Parking Field (Bronx) and Bensonhurst #1 Municipal Parking Field (Brooklyn).
Are there chargers at JFK and LaGuardia?
Yes. NYS Open Data lists fast chargers at JFK's cell phone lot area and at LaGuardia Lot GP-1, among others. TLC's February 2026 review says 12 fast chargers opened at LaGuardia in December 2025. Check the airport's rules and the charger app before you go.
How many chargers are there in NYC?
TLC counted 3,526 Level 2 and 370 fast chargers at the end of February 2026. NYS Open Data on 2026-10-11 listed 3,533 public Level 2 ports and 494 public DC fast ports in the five boroughs; the two counts use different sources and dates.
Can a Tesla use non-Tesla chargers?
TLC's FAQ says Teslas need the J1772 adapter (supplied with the car) for Level 1 and 2 charging, and a CCS Combo 1 adapter to fast-charge at non-Tesla ports.
Sources
Last reviewed against the official sources on .
- TLC: EV Charging FAQ (DOT discount, sites, connectors) nyc.gov
- TLC: February 2026 For-Hire Vehicle License Review (chargers, utilization) nyc.gov
- TLC 2025 Annual Report nyc.gov
- NYS Open Data: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in New York (7rrd-248n) data.ny.gov
- NYC DOT: Electric Vehicles (curbside Level 2) nyc.gov
- TLC: Electrification in Motion (Sept 2024) nyc.gov
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.
TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.