Streetlight Charging in the Kansas City Right-of-Way
Expanding access to EV charging, one streetlight at a time.
Kansas City, MO’s Streetlight Charging in the Right-of-Way pilot project has installed 23 electric vehicle (EV) chargers using the city’s streetlight infrastructure. This innovative project demonstrates how curbside charging can expand access to EVs, especially for renters, multi-family housing residents, and others without off-street parking.
Led by Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, this three-year initiative engaged the community to identify and evaluate the benefits of streetlight-based charging — with the goal of informing future citywide investments that support a diverse and growing group of EV drivers.
Reports
Kansas City, Missouri, Streetlight Electric Vehicle Charging
Strategies and challenges for site selection of streetlight electric vehicle infrastructure in Kansas City, Missouri
This report highlights the collaboration between MEC and partners to install streetlight-based EV charging stations in Kansas City, Missouri. Authored by Alexis Blomqvist from EVNoire, with input from Dr. Shelley Francis and Kelly Gilbert, it focuses on community engagement for equitable access to charging. Key findings emphasize charger placement in community spaces, safety, and economic opportunities for local businesses, along with recommendations for inclusive planning and outreach to promote EV adoption in underserved areas.
Streetlight Charging in the City Right-Of-Way
A Community Perspective
This report, created by MEC, NREL, and Penn State, outlines strategies and challenges in deploying streetlight-based EV charging in Kansas City, Missouri. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the project focuses on providing equitable, low-cost charging access for residents without private options. Key sections cover technology, site selection, community engagement, and deployment outcomes. The report highlights the installation of 23 charging stations, using data-driven models and community input, with a focus on underserved neighborhoods. Findings and recommendations aim to guide future EV infrastructure expansion efforts.
Project Photos
Use the gray arrows at right to browse the project photos.
Why Streetlight Charging?
While most EV owners charge at home, many Kansas City residents lack access to garages or driveways. Public curbside charging can bridge that gap.
This pilot project:
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Installed 23 streetlight-based EV chargers in six council districts.
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Demonstrated how existing infrastructure can be adapted with minimal disruption.
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Expanded EV access for renters, multi-family residents, taxis, and ride-share drivers.
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Used LED streetlight upgrades to leverage spare electrical capacity.
How Sites Were Chosen
The project used a two-tiered, data- and community-driven approach:
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Demand modeling to predict high-use areas based on traffic patterns and points of interest.
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Equity analysis to prioritize areas with low EV access, higher multi-family housing, and underserved communities.
Every location was evaluated for technical feasibility, community benefit, and cost-effectiveness. Community input helped refine site choices to better serve neighborhoods citywide.
Measuring Success
Since installation, all 23 chargers are actively being used. Early results show:
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Chargers near parks, shops, and community centers see the highest use.
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Usage is strong across income levels, showing broad community benefits.
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Lessons learned from this pilot will shape future installations and investments.
The pilot also developed new permitting and installation processes to streamline future curbside charging projects in Kansas City.
Project Partners
- Black & McDonald
- City of Kansas City, MO
- Evergy
- EVNoire
- LilyPad EV
- National Renewable Energy Lab
- Pennsylvania State University
Additional Resources
Charging Locations
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Award Number DE-EE008474.