Plug-In Electric Vehicles

KCP&L announces charging station partnership

KCP&L is partnering with eight local companies to install 10 new electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Kansas City region. Charging stations provide the infrastructure that will help promote electric vehicle adoption in our region. KCP&L will use these charging stations to test charging technologies and behaviors while monitoring usage.

These charging stations are funded by U.S. Department of Energy award DE-EE0002538, an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant project administered by Metropolitan Energy Center. The Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition is working with KCP&L to administer the grant.

Locations
The site partners and charging station locations include:

• Black & Veatch - 11401 Lamar Ave., Overland Park, Kan.
• The City of Lee’s Summit - 220 SE Green St., Lee’s Summit, Mo.
• Commerce Bank - 13441 State Line Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
• Harley-Davidson Motor Company - 11401 N. Congress Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
• Heartland Hospital - 5352 Faraon St., St. Joseph, Mo.
• Johnson County Community College (2) - 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kan.
• Park Place Leawood (2) - 11551 Ash St., Suite 200, Leawood, Kan.
• Union Station - 30 West Pershing Rd., Suite 450, Kansas City, Mo.

Click here for a map of charging station locations.

About the charging stations
LilyPad EV will provide and install the charging stations, which will be operational by fall 2011. These EVSE stations:

• Have the ability to charge two vehicles at once.
• Have both Level I (120-volt) and Level II (240-volt) charging capabilities.
• Are J1772 compliant, meaning they work with all standard electric vehicles including the new plug-in vehicles that will be available later this year, such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf.

FAQs

What is electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)?
EVSE is the device and related circuitry that safely charges an electrical vehicle’s battery. It draws power from the electric grid. The plug sends a signal from the onboard battery charger to the EVSE, controlling the level of electricity consumed.

How were these sites selected for this project?
KCP&L invited local companies to host EVSE stations at their facilities. All applications were evaluated based on convenience, access, site-location involvement, growth opportunities and connectivity to electrical source.

Are these the same EVSE stations that are a part of KCP&L’s SmartGrid?
No. KCP&L will install 10 additional EVSE stations in the KCP&L SmartGrid Demonstration area in Kansas City’s urban core. Their exact locations will be announced later this year.

Who pays for the electricity at the charging stations?
Each of the eight site partners will absorb the cost of the electricity consumed at their charging station through December, 2013, the term of the grant program.

How many electric vehicles are in the Kansas City area?
Currently, only a few original equipment manufactured (OEM) electric vehicles are on the road in the Kansas City region. This project provides early infrastructure to help promote electric vehicle adoption in the region.

Who is supplying the charging stations?
LilyPad EV will install these charging stations. LilyPad EV sells, installs and maintains Coulomb Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. They have already provided them to cities, utilities, businesses and consumers throughout Missouri and Kansas.

What is the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition and what are its other projects?
The Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored partnership between private businesses and local governments. The coalition is working to increase the numbers of vehicles that run on alternative fuels.

The Kansas City Clean Cities Coalition also has six other projects:

• Natural gas vehicles and filling stations - The City of Kansas City, Mo.
• Smith Electric Delivery Vehicles - Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
• Hybrid electric police vehicles - City of Lee’s Summit
• Natural gas vehicles and filling stations - Omaha Public Power District
• Natural Gas Busses - Kansas City, Kansas School District
• Electric vehicle and charging station - University of Missouri–Kansas City