The Mid-America Green Fleets’ goal is to significantly improve the environmental performance of business and government vehicle fleets across the region through diesel cleanup and other strategies. This program is composed of three core components:

• Working with fleet managers to develop a Mid-America Green Fleets policy tailored to their specific needs.
• Hands-on support and assistance in implementing the policy.
• The development of a regional rating system to recognize those fleets that have made positive progress toward their environmental goals.

This project is ongoing. If you wish to get involved or learn more please contact your Clean Cities Coordinator.

The project, “Electrifying Terminal Trucks in Unincentivized Markets,” is the result of partnerships from Kansas City to Chicago, whose goal is to electrify terminal trucks in our regional market. The technology being put into service under this grant is manufactured by Orange EV. Based in Riverside, MO, Orange EV designs and manufacturers all-electric yard trucks right here in the heartland. They are also the first American company to commercially build, deploy and service 100% electric Class 8 electric vehicles into container handling operations.

Kansas City’s Streetlight Charging in the City Right-of-Way pilot project will install limited electric vehicle (EV) charging on the streetlight system to demonstrate and test the benefits of curbside charging for plug-in electric vehicles at existing on-street parking locations. This 3-year project will engage the community in a collaborative effort to identify and evaluate the benefits and impacts of streetlight charging and use findings to streamline future efforts to support a diverse array of EV drivers. Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC) is committed to a transparent and publicly accessible approach that encourages the collaborative evaluation of streetlight charging. Learn how you can get involved by visiting the project page.

Accelerating Alternative Fuel Adoption in Mid-America is designed to increase use of alternative fuel in Kansas and western Missouri by the following approaches: 1) expanding infrastructure along key highways, most notably by closing the CNG fueling gap on I-70 between Denver and Kansas City, completing this leg of the AFV Corridor; 2) partnering with each local community where infrastructure investment takes place under the terms of this grant to educate, promote alternative fuels, and create a replicable grass-roots model to expand clean-fuel markets; 3) assisting local communities in first-time alternative fuel adoption and to assist organizations working to expand existing alternative fuel fleets.

Electrify Heartland was a product of the Greater Kansas City Plug-In Readiness Initiative, sponsored by Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Coalition and Mid-America Regional Council.  The overall goal was to have a regional plan to prepare public resources and secure the economic and environmental benefits of plug-in vehicles within the metropolitan areas of Kansas City, MO and KS, Jefferson City, MO, and Wichita, Salina, Topeka and Lawrence, KS.  On this page you will also find information and resources related to all aspects of electric vehicle (EV) and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).  This project has been completed. Tools and resources developed for this project are available under Resources.

Because of its NOx emissions cheating, Volkswagen is being held responsible for both recalling diesel vehicles that have violated US emissions standards and paying penalties issued by the EPA. Penalty funds will be used to increase investments in zero emission vehicle (ZEV) deployments and projects that offset the NOx emissions that were produced by the substandard vehicles.

Fleets for the Future (F4F) was a national partnership of regional councils, Clean Cities coalitions, and industry experts tasked with coordinating five regional and a national procurement initiative designed to consolidate bulk orders of alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure. The procurement initiatives that resulted from the project reduce procurement costs for participating agencies and reduce incremental costs where possible. F4F also disseminates best practices on application, usage, and procurement strategies for gaseous fuel vehicles, electric vehicles and related infrastructure.