DRIVE Electric USA is a 14-state initiative with the goal of significantly advancing electric vehicles (EV). Each state will have its unique branding, planning, challenges, and goals for the project. For the project, MEC has established Electrify Heartland, with state initiatives Electrify Kansas and (with St. Louis Clean Cities) Electrify Missouri. We will work with individuals, utilities, legislators, dealerships, and others to remove adoption barriers and transform the electrification sector in our region. To learn more about the project, visit Electrify Heartland, the national project page or contact Brandt Hertenstein.

Through the project, four all-electric terminal trucks manufactured by Orange EV will be deployed in the Kansas City and Chicago metropolitan areas. An all-electric demo truck is also available to interested fleets across the U.S. at no cost except a shipping fee of $500. Ultimately, MEC will create a deployment guide based on the real-world experiences of project participants so fleets across the country can access reliable data in support of cleaner, more efficient freight handling.

To learn more about the project or to request the demo truck, visit the project page or contact Emily Wolfe.

As vehicle electrification becomes more prominent across the U.S., there is a growing need for practical information on electric vehicle (EV) performance. With the help of the EV WATTS project, agreements with EV fleets, personal EV users, and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), MEC will use real-world data to guide future research, development, and deployment of EV’s.

To learn more about the project, or if you are an EV owner and would like to participate in the project, visit the project page or contact Brandt Hertenstein.

Kansas City, MO’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. MEC is committed to a transparent and publicly accessible approach that encourages the collaborative evaluation of streetlight charging.

To learn how you can get involved, visit the project page or email Electrify Heartland staff.

MEC is managing funds for four EPA-funded Diesel Emission Reduction projects. These projects fulfill aspects of MEC’s energy transformation strategy and meet the objective to achieve significant reductions in emissions produced by diesel engines, particularly from fleets operating at, or servicing, goods movement facilities in areas designated as having poor air quality. Funding supports replacement of diesel engines or vehicles and other projects (such as truck stop electrification) to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions.

Funding is currently available to join MEC in reducing fleet impact on air quality. To learn more or view current funding opportunities, visit our project page projects or contact David Albrecht.

This project is designed to increase the use of alternative fuels in Kansas & western Missouri by the following approaches: 1) expand fueling infrastructure along key highways; 2) partner with local communities where infrastructure investments take place under the grant to educate, promote alternative fuels, and create a replicable grassroots model to expand clean-fuel markets; 3) assist local communities in first-time alternative fuel adoption and organizations working to expand existing alternative fuel fleets.

To learn more about the project or available funding, visit the project page or contact Miriam Bouallegue.

The goal of Mid-America Green Fleets 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.

If you’d like to learn more how you can pursue Green Fleets for your transportation needs, visit the project page or contact Miriam Bouallegue.

This project funds the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities coalition. With these funds we develop plans for alternative fuel corridors, maintain a working group on electric charging corridors, supplement Mid-America Green Fleets work, help stakeholders access project funding, conduct outreach and education for fleets and consumer groups, and more. All this with a focus on advancing the adoption of clean fuel alternatives in Kansas & Missouri. Our knowledge, expertise, and engagement with stakeholders across the region help us to identify key performance indicators and expand alternative fuel initiatives in Mid-America. The data captured in this program is shared with the U.S. Department of Energy to help Congress understand the beneficial impacts of this investment in clean air and public health. To learn more, visit the program web page or contact co-coordinators David Albrecht and Brandt Hertenstein.