This list will continue to be updated as we receive more questions from the community. If you have additional questions about the project, please feel free to email us at electrifyheartland@metroenergy.org

(back to Streetlight EV Charging Stations project page)

Where can I learn more about Electric Vehicles (EV) technology? 

Electric drive vehicles can be divided into three categories: hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and all-electric vehicles (EV). All of these have batteries and electric motors, although only EVs and PHEVs can be charged by “plugging in.” For this reason, EVs and PHEVs are collectively referred to as plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs).

HEVs:

• Have an internal combustion engine and electric motor
• Do not plug in; are typically fueled with gasoline or diesel
• Charge the battery through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine.

PHEVs:

• Have an internal combustion engine and electric motor
• Plug in and can run either on electricity or a conventional or alternative fuel
• Have all electric ranges of 10–50 miles, with some models upwards of 100 miles. On a depleted battery, fuel economy is similar to an HEV.

EVs:

• Have an electric motor only (thus are also called “all electric” vehicles)
• Plug in and run exclusively on electricity
• Have an average range of about 200 miles per charge, with some models with ranges over 300 miles.

For even more detailed information about EVs, you can refer to the following resources:

DOE’s EV at a glance brochure here: https://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/electric-drive_vehicles.pdf

DOE’s AFDC webpage on EVs here: https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric.html

Clean Charge Network’s EV 101 page here: https://cleanchargenetwork.com/why-drive-electric/ev-101/

What is a charging station?

An Electric Vehicle charging station, sometimes referred to as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), is the physical infrastructure that supplies electricity to recharge the battery in an electric vehicle (EV). This equipment can be located at a home, in public locations like grocery stores, places of work, and even on public streets or in parking lots. Stations that are in public locations, such as stores and parking facilities, tend to have a pedestal and a cord with the connector that runs from the pedestal, to the vehicle, as displayed in the photo below:

For more information on EV charging stations, please visit the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data Center (AFDC) webpage: https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_infrastructure.html

There are more than 26,000 non-residential charging station locations in the United States with over 80,000 charging outlets. For more information on locations of charging stations, please see the Alternative Fuel Station Locator: https://afdc.energy.gov/stations/#/analyze?country=US&fuel=ELEC&ev_levels=all&access=public&access=private

What is streetlight charging? How is that different from other charging stations?

Streetlight charging can look different from city to city. For this project in Kansas City, it won’t be any different from other stations you see around town. These will just be located on streetlights, so there will be better access to charging stations on the curbside, without adding more clutter to your sidewalks and curbs. Here’s a picture of what it might look like in Kansas City:

What type (power level) of chargers exist for EVs? 

There are three kinds of modern charging equipment that are available for EVs: Level 1, Level 2, and Direct-current fast charging (DCFC). Many factors contribute to the selection of equipment, but the easiest way to differentiate these levels is by how fast they can charge a vehicle. The table below breaks these types of chargers down:

Level 1 (AC/120V)	Level 2 (AC/240V)	DC Fast Charging DC(208-480V)
2-5 miles of range per hour of charging	10-20 miles of range per hour of charging	60-80 miles of range per 20 minutes of charging

For more information on the types of EV charging equipment, please see the AFDC page on charging infrastructure: https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_infrastructure.html

What type (power level) of chargers will be installed?

This project will install Level 2 charging stations. This is the same technology that is being used for the rest of the Clean Charge Network which supplies many of the public EV charging stations in the Kansas City area. For more information, please visit the Clean Charge Network website: https://cleanchargenetwork.com/

Why should I care about this? 

Emissions from vehicle tailpipes contribute to climate change and air pollution.  Transportation pollution has a significant negative impact on our health, increasing our risks of cancer and asthma, along with a host of other illnesses. Members of the community could see health benefits from decreased pollution from vehicle tailpipes. Plug-in electric vehicle drivers can also see financial benefits from lower fuel and maintenance costs than what they may see with conventional gasoline vehicles.

What are the public health benefits associated with electric cars? 

Vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel produce gases and chemicals (emissions) that are extremely harmful, contribute to respiratory disease and premature death, and increase one’s cancer risk. Transportation vehicle emissions contribute to air pollution and climate change. Electric vehicles reduce air pollution and improve air quality for all communities especially those who are overexposed to air pollution which on average tend to be Black, Latinx and Native American communities.

https://fresh-energy.org/electric-vehicles-good-for-public-health-and-the-planet/

https://www.greenenergyconsumers.org/drivegreen/publichealth

https://www.fleetcarma.com/exploring-health-benefits-evs/

Are there other resources that we can review to learn more about Electric Vehicles, Charging, Public Health Benefits?

Electric Vehicles have a long list of benefits and considerations. Most notable are the following:

• It costs $0.03–$0.06 per mile to fuel an EV; conventional vehicles consume $0.07–$0.27 of fuel per mile.
• EVs and PHEVs running on electricity alone produce zero tailpipe emissions, meaning there is no exhaust that comes out of the tailpipe of an EV thereby improving air quality for all residents.
• HEVs and PEVs generally produce lower life cycle emissions than conventional vehicles.
• Emissions from electricity production depend on grid mix of power plants. PEV drivers can lower their life cycle emissions even further by using renewable electricity.

For more detailed information, please review the Benefits of Electricity page at the AFDC: https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_benefits.html and the Department of Energy’s Electric Vehicle benefits page: https://www.energy.gov/eere/electricvehicles/electric-vehicle-benefits

How will this project benefit my community? 

One of the barriers to EV adoption or transitioning to using a zero emissions vehicle can be access to charging infrastructure (e.g. finding a place to charge the vehicle). This project will address this barrier by providing public charging using streetlights. Our goal is to make charging available and accessible to all communities. EVs are cleaner, less costly to operate, and provide health benefits to communities including improved air quality because the vehicles do not produce tailpipe emissions that can cause multiple health problems.

Will there be community meetings?

Yes, there will be community meetings which will begin no sooner than Fall 2020. EVNoire, one of the project partners, is working with MEC and local partners to hold community listening sessions. Following local and state COVID-19 prevention guidance, we will host either in-person or virtual meetings              [e.g. web-based or smart phone]. Check back for updates.

How can residents ask questions or comment on this project?

Residents can attend one of two community listening sessions, where you can ask questions, make comments, or share concerns. Visit https://metroenergy.org/programs/clean-cities/projects/streetlight-ev-charging/ periodically to find out when these are scheduled and how to participate. Or email electrifyheartland@metroenergy.org to be notified with a personal invitation when they are scheduled.

Residents can also submit comments or questions to electrifyheartland@metroenergy.org.

Listening sessions

Residents can attend one of two community listening sessions, where they can voice any questions, comments, or concerns. Visit https://metroenergy.org/programs/clean-cities/projects/streetlight-ev-charging/ periodically to find out when these are scheduled and how to participate. Or email electrifyheartland@metroenergy.org to be notified with a personal invitation when they are scheduled.

Will the stations be maintained? 

Yes. The charging stations will be maintained for the life of the infrastructure to ensure they remain in safe working condition.

Could this project pose any hazards or concerns for my community? 

The project team is providing the community with information about this project in order to address concerns while increasing awareness of the project. While using the streetlight chargers is similar to using an outdoor outlet, prior to beginning public use, all streetlights will be assessed to ensure they meet and pass all city codes and standards and are safe for consumer use.

Can I safely drive/charge in the rain? 

Yes. Electric car chargers are weatherproof and are specifically designed to protect both the car and its humans from electrical shock.  Electric vehicle chargers are rigorously tested by OSHA-certified laboratories and have to meet stringent safety standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Where can I go to see or test drive an electric car? 

MEC holds regular ride and drive events for individuals interested in electric vehicles. These have been placed on hold during the pandemic, but please email electrifyheartland@metroenergy.org  if you would like to be notified at the next opportunity.

You can also learn more about electric vehicle test drive opportunities at the Evergy Connect Center, located at 1710 Paseo Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108.

Can internal combustion (gasoline or diesel) vehicles park at EV charging spaces?

Kansas City Missouri’s parking ordinances do not allow internal combustion vehicles to park at charging station spaces [Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Code 88-305-10] which is enforced. Further, internal combustion vehicles should not park at EV charging spaces, anyway. EV drivers need to be able to access limited EV charging spaces in order to charge their vehicles and reach their destinations.

Will there be time limits on how long someone can charge their vehicle at the chargers? 

The City of Kansas City enforces parking time limits in certain parking zones. EV drivers parked to charge will be subject to the same parking time limits as other vehicles in the same parking zones.

 Where will the funds for this project come from? 

This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and was awarded to Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) through a competitive proposal process. MEC is a local non-profit that works to create resource efficiency, environmental health, and economic vitality in the Kansas City region. MEC and its project partners are making in-kind contributions to leverage these federal dollars for the benefit of the Kansas City community. Project partners include Evergy, The City of Kansas City, MO, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), EVNoire, local community organizations, Black and McDonald, LilyPad EV, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and you!

What is the timeline for this project?

This project is in the planning phase until Spring 2021. We will consider community feedback as part of the public engagement and site selection process. Installations are planned to begin no sooner than Spring 2021–after our community listening sessions help with our site selection–with estimated completion by December 2021.

What is the estimated start date for charging installation?

Installations are planned to begin no sooner than Spring 2021, with estimated completion by December 2021.

Are the charging stations free? 

The charging stations are not free. At this time we plan for the stations to cost users the same as other public charging stations in Kansas City, which is 22c/kwh. This is the standard business rate for Evergy customers and is about twice what it would cost to charge in a home garage. However the Clean Charge Network operates free charging stations around Kansas City. Learn more here: https://cleanchargenetwork.com/find-a-charging-station/

How can I find the right electric vehicle for my lifestyle and  commuting needs? 

Check out the Sierra Club’s quiz: Which electric vehicle best fits your lifestyle? You can also learn more by contacting the Mid-America Electric Auto Association. 

Where can I go to find out more about electric vehicles / types available and prices that are available here in Kansas City? 

Many automobile dealerships in Kansas City offer electric vehicles for sale. Visit https://pluginamerica.org/discover-40-plug-in-models-with-the-ev-guide/ to peruse the 2019 EV Guide or https://plugstar.com/ to see the wide variety of PHEVs available on the market today and search for local dealership. You can also learn more about electric vehicles in Kansas City by contacting Mid-America Electric Auto Association online or the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition at electrifyheartland@metroenergy.org.

How can I purchase electric vehicles for my company 

Many automobile dealerships in Kansas City offer electric vehicles for fleets and organizations.

If you work for a municipal or government agency, you can find cooperative buying options.

• Mid-America Council of Public Procurement operates a cooperative vehicle buying program on a three-year cycle. The results of the 2020 Vehicle bid are available here at Clay County’s procurement contract site.
• The Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative at DriveEVfleets.org is a national cooperative purchasing group that uses Sourcewell as a backbone. It offers vehicle charging equipment as well as EVs and electrification upfitters for heavier vans and trucks. It also offers competitive lease financing.

You can learn more about electric vehicles for your company by contacting the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition at electrifyheartland@metroenergy.org. We can also help you determine whether there are electric vehicles right for your company operations with a green fleet analysis.

(back to Streetlight EV Charging Stations project page)

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.