Electric & Natural Gas Vehicles
In 1997 the Garden installed one of the first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in the Bronx. This station is able to take the natural gas delivered by Con Edison at 60 psi and compress and store the gas at up to 4000 psi, making it available to fuel internal combustion engines converted for its use.
To date the Garden has converted the entire fleet of eight trams that are used to transport our visitors to destinations around the Garden, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 48% compared to the older diesel models of the tram. The Horticulture Department was also able to convert two of its larger vehicles used by the arboretum crew to CNG. As CNG vehicles become more readily available in the marketplace, the Garden is in a unique position to add these vehicles to its fleet.
As the Garden continues to expand its visitation, excellence in educational programing, horticultural displays, and science, the staff continues to grow and requires transportation on our 250-acre campus. Subsequently, the Garden began utilizing electric utility and golf carts to reduce the number of gasoline and diesel vehicles. With the GHG reduction goal in mind, we are constantly thinking of ways to utilize alternative methods of producing electricity, including solar, wind, and fuel cell technology.
In September 2017, the New York State Attorney General announced that four non-profit organizations had been selected to demonstrate the benefits of battery-powered electric delivery trucks. Named E-Cubed, the innovative project highlights the economic, efficiency, and environmental advantages that all-electric delivery trucks have for New Yorkers. Along with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Habitat for Humanity NYC, and the Big Reuse, The New York Botanical Garden was chosen through a competitive application process to participate in this new program.
On August 29, 2018, the Garden received the first delivery of the new all-electric truck. The charging station, provided by ChargePoint Inc., has been located near the Pfizer Plant Research Laboratory loading dock because of its proximity to available electrical power, ease of installation, and available parking. NYBG will be receiving an additional all-electric rack body truck with a lift gate. Produced by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks, both of these zero-emission vehicles will be used to support core operations and services. With a 75-mile range per overnight charge, they will help to reduce traffic-related soot pollution, create economic and environmental efficiencies, and provide a cost-effective alternative to combustion engines to create a greener New York. The initial lease will be funded for a two-year period and all costs associated with the lease and charging station have been paid for by the Attorney General’s office.