A supermarket parking lot in the city is set to become part of a statewide effort to help Uber, Lyft and taxi drivers transition to electric vehicles.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center announced this month that a Big Y supermarket at 100 Mayfield St. in Worcester has been selected as one of six sites statewide to receive new rapid electric vehicle charging infrastructure through the Ride Clean Mass Charging Hubs program.
The initiative is designed to address one of the biggest obstacles facing rideshare and taxi drivers considering electric vehicles: access to reliable, convenient charging stations in the areas where they work.
The Worcester site joins locations in West Springfield, Somerville, Brockton, Boston and Lowell selected through what officials described in the announcement as a data-driven process that examined rideshare activity and concentrations of driver residences.
Each location is getting a direct-current fast charging equipment capable of significantly reducing charging times compared with traditional public chargers. The stations will be available not only to rideshare and taxi drivers but also to the general public.
Installation is expected to take place over the coming months, with all six charging hubs anticipated to be operational by late summer or early fall.
“Rideshare and taxi drivers are on the road more than anyone, and they should have accessible charging infrastructure, especially with gas prices on the rise,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in the announcement.
Mass Clean Energy Center officials said the program is intended to support high-mileage drivers who often face greater challenges finding time and locations to recharge their vehicles.
“This program is about meeting rideshare drivers where they are. These six locations were selected through a data-driven process to maximize impact for drivers and customers alike,” Mass Clean Energy Center CEO Ben Downing said in the announcement.
The charging hubs complement the state’s Ride Clean Mass rebate program, which provides financial incentives for Uber, Lyft, taxi and livery drivers who purchase, lease or rent electric vehicles.
According to the announcement, qualifying Uber and Lyft drivers can receive up to $14,000 toward a new electric vehicle or $6,500 toward a used one. Taxi and livery operators can qualify for even larger incentives, while drivers interested in trying an electric vehicle before purchasing can receive rental assistance.
State officials said the dual approach is intended to tackle both the cost of acquiring electric vehicles and the lack of charging infrastructure that has slowed adoption among professional drivers.
Funding for the charging hub program comes through the Healey-Driscoll administration’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council and a broader $50 million investment in electric vehicle charging projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
