Recently, the Utica Rome Professionals Under 40 highlighted a worker from the New York Power Authority. The fleet specification writer played a key role in securing NYPA’s first all-electric bucket truck.

“Zero emissions, that’s our goal with the Vision 2030. We’re always trying to lessen our carbon footprint," said Conrad Lupardo, fleet specification writer for the NYPA. “You know, with Vision 2030, we're always looking for new ways to electrify our fleet and with the EV bucket truck being an option that was now out to market, we could go out and try to get one to test out across the state.”

The $528,000 all-electric bucket truck will be used at the Switchyard in Niagara, for maintenance duties and help with the electric flow across the state.

Lupardo says this bucket truck can take about 45 minutes to an hour and half to charge when using a fast charger. He says the truck can get 100 to 125 miles depending on the weather but still enough to perform a typical eight-hour workday.

“Sometimes with the colder weather, the battery doesn't get as many miles because it has to keep the battery at a certain temperature for optimal efficiency,” Lupardo explained.

“Just our network of fast chargers alone, it is 43 sites within New York state, you know 170 chargers, we’re scaling it up to 400," said John Markowitz, senior director of e-mobility for NYPA.

Markowitz says with the Evolve Charging Stations, the idea was to be able to charge vehicles quickly.

“The time it would take you to eat a sandwich, your car goes from let’s say 10% to let’s say 80% because it starts charging slower when it gets near full," Markowitz said.

NYPA currently has 103 electric vehicles in its fleet. He says to save money, slower chargers are used at the depot.

"And just allow it to charge slower as long as it’s like a single shift truck. Taking 16 hours to charge isn’t a problem if it’s only working eight hours a day," he explained.