Kansas City Clean Charge Network

Project Summary

Prior to 2015, the Kansas City region had a limited number of electric vehicle charging stations available to community members. In response, Evergy installed over 1,000 charging stations in their Clean Charge Network. By doing so, the company expanded renewable energy production, reduced customers’ range anxiety, and advanced the adoption of electric vehicles in Kansas City. Since the start of the project, there has been a 95 percent increase in electric vehicle purchases within the metropolitan area. 

While the number of electric vehicles on the road has increased in the past decade, range anxiety remains a main barrier for potential customers due to the lack of public charging infrastructure available in the United States. The term range anxiety is primarily used to describe the fear that an electric vehicle battery has insufficient charge to reach its destination.  

 In 2015, Evergy announced that it would install and operate over 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations in the Kansas City region, which would be the largest initiative by a US electric utility company at that time. The company decided to establish the Clean Charge Network to increase electric vehicle adoption, reduce range anxiety, and advance clean energy in the Kansas City region.  

Before Evergy started building the Clean Charge Network, project managers needed to identify locations to install the charging sites. As many City governments are supported by Evergy’s Tier 1 Customer Support Managers, they were the first customers who were made aware of the plans to own and operate charging stations in their service jurisdiction.  

Additionally, the company contacted other cities to see where they located their charging stations. Project managers decided to place charging stations at a variety of highly trafficked locations, such as universities and schools, public libraries, movie theaters, and private businesses. To incentivize host sites, Evergy developed a website that lists the general benefits for hosting a charging station.  

Once Evergy determined the optimal locations, they needed to decide the type and level of charging stations. The company partnered with ChargePoint Inc. to manufacture the equipment stations. Evergy selected level of charging stations, based on what was appropriate for each location. Today 98% of Evergy’s charging stations are Level 2 with the remainder Direct-current fast charging stations.

During the entire planning and construction process, Evergy organized outreach events and information meetings for community members. The company launched a website about the Clean Charge Network, that includes information about electric vehicles, events, informational videos, and more. Additionally, Evergy organized free electric vehicle ride-and-drive events. To further incentivize community members to purchase electric vehicles, they offered free charging for two years, and at some locations, free charging permanently.

Funding

The total cost for building the Clean Charge Network was $25 million. There are varying costs associated with the charging stations, their installation, and their respectable level. Level one charging stations range between $300-$1,500, $400-$6,500 for level two, and $10,000-$40,000 for DC fast-charging. Evergy funded the Network using its capital budget.

Timeline

Evergy started building the Clean Charge Network in 2015. By 2021, Evergy had installed over 1,000 charging stations and planned to add more to the Network as the number of electric vehicles grow.

Underserved communities are more likely to face stronger barriers to adopting electric vehicles. Many low-income drivers, who are disproportionately people of color, live in apartments that are ill-equipped to charge electric vehicles. Public charging infrastructure is often placed in wealthier communities, making it inaccessible for disadvantaged populations; however, there are also gentrification concerns about placing charging infrastructure in low-income neighborhoods. Furthermore, underserved populations are often unable to collect the federal tax credit given to electric vehicle owners because they do not have the tax liability. 

At the start of the project, Evergy had a small target for low-income areas. To ensure all community residents have equitable access to electrified transportation, Evergy will target underserved areas by increasing accessibility to charging stations, rideshare services, and electric mass transit.