KCP&L’s Clean Charge Network will be the
largest utility electric vehicle charging station installation in
the country
Today, at a kickoff event at its headquarters, Kansas City Power
& Light Company (KCP&L), a subsidiary of Great Plains
Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP), announced its plans to install and
operate more than 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations, making
it the largest electric vehicle charging station installation by an
electric utility in the United States. KCP&L’s Clean Charge
Network is the next step in the company’s leadership in
environmental sustainability. Over the next several months,
KCP&L will install more than 1,000 charging stations throughout
the Greater Kansas City region. This network of stations will be
capable of supporting more than 10,000 electric vehicles. Through
partnerships with companies at host locations and with Nissan Motor
Company, the Clean Charge Network will offer free charging on every
station to all drivers for the first two years. The stations are
manufactured by ChargePoint and will be part of the ChargePoint
network of more than 20,000 charging spots in North America.
“The Kansas City region is quickly building a reputation as an
innovative, sustainable place to live and work,” said Terry
Bassham, President and CEO of Great Plains Energy and KCP&L.
“We’re excited to continue being a leader in support of this growth
by providing our customers and visitors to this region with an
environmentally-friendly alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles.
Thanks to our Clean Charge Network, everyone in our service
territory will be able to charge up and hit the road.”
Where can I charge my electric vehicle?
The charging stations will be installed strategically throughout
KCP&L’s service region, ensuring there will be a charging
station near where electric vehicle owners live and work.
“We are committed to the electric vehicle industry and want to
give residents and visitors the ability to join the electric
vehicle revolution. As a utility, we will place the stations where
they’re needed most and support them as part of our electric grid,
leveraging our expertise with electrical infrastructure,” said
Bassham. “Our Clean Charge Network eliminates ‘range anxiety’ in
the region, which is the number one roadblock to greater electric
vehicle adoption. Now, electric vehicle owners will have an answer
to the question, ‘Where do I recharge my vehicle?’”
Installation of the charging stations began in late 2014 and
will be completed this summer. The first stations deployed on the
network will include 15 fast charging stations provided by Nissan
and KCP&L, which will charge any model of electric vehicle on
the market. On the fast charging stations, an electric vehicle like
the Nissan LEAF will charge from empty to approximately 80 percent
in about 30 minutes. In addition, the Clean Charge Network will
have more than 1,000 standard charging stations, which will give
most electric vehicles a 25 mile charge for every hour it is
plugged into the station.
“The number of stations allows electric vehicle owners to change
their habits, charging as they go about their day, and giving them
the freedom to drive that much further. It makes it easier for
current electric vehicle owners and hopefully will remove the
perceived barriers for potential electric vehicle owners,” said
Bassham.
What’s in it for me?
“The most exciting part is that everyone benefits,” said Kansas
City Mayor Sly James. “Not only do the owners of electric vehicles
in Kansas City benefit, but with this project, KCP&L is also
investing in the economic development and environmental
sustainability of this region, which is a win for everyone. I
applaud KCP&L for taking this groundbreaking step forward right
here in Kansas City.”
Kansas City is the largest auto manufacturing center in the
United States, outside of Detroit. That position makes the region
well suited for leadership in the transportation of the future.
Range anxiety — the fear of running out of power before reaching
the next charging station — is a top concern for potential electric
car buyers. By alleviating that anxiety and enabling more people to
purchase electric vehicles, KCP&L’s Clean Charge Network
continues Kansas City region’s leadership as an automotive center
by creating new jobs and, ultimately, attracting new businesses and
talent.
This project extends KCP&L’s position as an industry leader
in environmental sustainability. Along with KCP&L’s
environmental upgrades at several local power plants, renewable
energy portfolio and its energy efficiency programs, the KCP&L
Clean Charge Network will reduce carbon emissions and help the
Kansas City region attain EPA regional ozone standards.
“All our environmental investments, including the new network,
advance our commitment to a more sustainable energy future,” said
Bassham. “We know our customers want more choice when it comes to
their energy solutions, and we are committed to providing them with
affordable, long-term energy solutions that offer them greater
control of their energy use.”
In addition to regional economic and environmental benefits, the
Clean Charge Network can help keep electricity costs low for all
KCP&L customers. As more drivers adopt electric vehicles, not
only will vehicle emissions be reduced but the cost of operating
and maintaining the electrical grid will be spread over increased
electricity usage, benefitting everyone. Those who drive electric
vehicles will see the bill for fueling their cars go down because
electricity is less expensive than gasoline, even at gasoline’s low
current price. At the same time, increased efficient use of
electricity will offset cost increases for operating the grid,
which would otherwise become part of customer bills.
“People generally charge their cars at non-peak periods when
KCP&L’s electrical grid is being underutilized. By stimulating
electric vehicle adoption with their Clean Charge Network, what
KCP&L is doing is encouraging people to use the electrical grid
more efficiently and drive down the cost of electricity for
everyone,” said Natural Resources Defense Council Senior Energy
Economist Ashok Gupta. “KCP&L’s efforts to encourage the use of
electric vehicles, modernize the electrical grid, increase the use
of renewable energy sources and invest in customers through robust
energy efficiency programs are all critical parts of a sustainable
energy future. More electric vehicles on the road means that people
will be using more electricity during times when KCP&L already
has enough generation and distribution capacity to meet their
demand. That means savings on electricity bills for everyone and
cleaner air for everyone.”
Why KCP&L?
KCP&L is not new to electric vehicle infrastructure. In
2011, KCP&L worked with the Kansas City Regional Clean Cities
Coalition to bring ten charging stations to the area. KCP&L
also deployed additional stations through the KCP&L SmartGrid
Demonstration Project. All of these stations offered the
opportunity to test technologies and behaviors while monitoring
usage, laying the foundation for KCP&L’s Clean Charge
Network.
“We’ve learned a lot over the last few years about how our
customers use electric vehicles,” said Bassham. “Combined with our
knowledge of the electric grid and award-winning reliability, we
think we’re well-suited to operate the electric vehicle
network.”
KCP&L will install ChargePoint stations as part of this
project. ChargePoint operates the world’s largest electric vehicle
charging network, making Clean Charge stations part of a nationwide
cohesive network and not a series of one-off stations. As a result,
electric vehicle owners in this region will have the same
experience, the same customer service and a set of transparent and
standard pricing options at every station. And for the next two
years, charging a car in KCP&L’s Clean Charge Network will be
free to electric vehicle owners. KCP&L is partnering with
Nissan and the host sites to cover the charging cost to further
encourage electric vehicle adoption in this market.
Economies of scale with KCP&L’s Clean Charge Network will
help keep costs low. As a utility, KCP&L’s costs are regulated
by state commissions. These factors combine to ensure a fair price
for the stations. The commissions will also help facilitate
conversations to ensure all stakeholders have a voice.
Partners
“Our partners helped make this groundbreaking program a
reality,” said Bassham. “Each is a leader in the electric vehicle
industry worldwide. We look forward to working together on making
the Midwest a leader in the electric vehicle industry.”
- Nissan, maker of the Nissan
LEAF, the best-selling all-electric car, is providing funding
toward 16 fast charging stations, including covering the costs of
the electricity necessary to power the charging stations for two
years.
- ChargePoint, the world’s largest
and most open electric vehicle charging network, will manufacture
the standard charging stations in KCP&L’s Clean Charge Network.
ChargePoint manufactures the stations and this represents the
single largest single installation on the ChargePoint network.
ChargePoint provides 24/7 driver support and offers a free mobile
app that drivers can use to find stations and start charging.
KCP&L is also partnering with local companies to be host
sites for the Clean Charge Network. Host sites have been selected
using a variety of criteria, including ensuring KCP&L’s Clean
Charge Network is accessible at geographically diverse sites that
are convenient for customers to access. There are still a limited
number of spots available for sites. Interested business can apply
online at www.kcpl.com/CleanCharge. Customers who would like to
nominate a location can do so on KCP&L’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/KCPLConnect.
How to access the Clean Charge Network
To utilize the stations, all drivers have to do is sign up for a
ChargePoint membership (https://na.chargepoint.com/register).
Drivers will then have access to the more than 20,000 charging
locations nationwide on the ChargePoint network, including these
new stations offered by KCP&L. Drivers can find charging
stations and see their availability in real-time at ChargePoint.com
or with the free ChargePoint mobile app. To use the stations,
drivers simply wave their ChargePoint card in front of the station,
or use the ChargePoint mobile app.
For more information on this project and to see a map of
locations already selected, please visit
www.kcpl.com/CleanCharge.
About Great Plains Energy:
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Great Plains Energy
Incorporated (NYSE: GXP) is the holding company of Kansas City
Power & Light Company and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations
Company, two of the leading regulated providers of electricity in
the Midwest. Kansas City Power & Light Company and KCP&L
Greater Missouri Operations Company use KCP&L as a brand name.
More information about the companies is available on the Internet
at: www.greatplainsenergy.com or www.kcpl.com.
About Nissan LEAF:
With more than 158,000 global sales since launch, Nissan LEAF is
the world's best-selling electric vehicle. LEAF seats up to five
passengers and boasts an estimated driving range on a fully-charged
battery of 84 miles and MPGe ratings of 126 city, 101 highway and
114 combined. The effective price of a Nissan LEAF starts at about
$23,000 after the available $7,500 federal tax credit, which is
competitive with gas-powered cars while providing the benefits of
lower running costs and less scheduled maintenance. For more
information, visit www.nissanusa.com/LEAF.
About ChargePoint:
ChargePoint operates the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV)
charging network, with more than 20,000 spots to plug in and
charge. We are transforming the transportation industry by
providing the charging stations, mobile apps, analytics and the
charging network that allow property owners and drivers to benefit
from EV charging. We are also transforming the energy industry by
providing intelligent solutions to help people and businesses shift
away from fossil fuels and use electricity more efficiently. Our
mission is to get all drivers behind the wheel of an EV and provide
them a place to charge whether at home, at work, around town or
out-of-town. Real-time network information is available through the
ChargePoint app and in many top-selling EVs.
For more information, visit www.chargepoint.com.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements made in this release that are not based on historical
facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and
are intended to be as of the date when made. Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, the outcome of
regulatory proceedings, cost estimates of capital projects and
other matters affecting future operations. In connection with the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, Great Plains Energy and KCP&L are providing a
number of important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the provided forward-looking information.
These important factors include: future economic conditions in
regional, national and international markets and their effects on
sales, prices and costs; prices and availability of electricity in
regional and national wholesale markets; market perception of the
energy industry, Great Plains Energy and KCP&L changes in
business strategy, operations or development plans; the outcome of
contract negotiations for goods and services; effects of current or
proposed state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or
developments, including, but not limited to, deregulation,
re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry;
decisions of regulators regarding rates the Companies can charge
for electricity; adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations,
rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and
environmental matters including, but not limited to, air and water
quality; financial market conditions and performance including, but
not limited to, changes in interest rates and credit spreads and in
availability and cost of capital and the effects on nuclear
decommissioning trust and pension plan assets and costs;
impairments of long-lived assets or goodwill; credit ratings;
inflation rates; effectiveness of risk management policies and
procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their
contractual commitments; impact of terrorist acts, including but
not limited to cyber terrorism; ability to carry out marketing and
sales plans; weather conditions including, but not limited to,
weather-related damage and their effects on sales, prices and
costs; cost, availability, quality and deliverability of fuel; the
inherent uncertainties in estimating the effects of weather,
economic conditions and other factors on customer consumption and
financial results; ability to achieve generation goals and the
occurrence and duration of planned and unplanned generation
outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates and cost
increases of generation, transmission, distribution or other
projects; Great Plains Energy’s ability to successfully manage
transmission joint venture; the inherent risks associated with the
ownership and operation of a nuclear facility including, but not
limited to, environmental, health, safety, regulatory and financial
risks; workforce risks, including, but not limited to, increased
costs of retirement, health care and other benefits; and other
risks and uncertainties.
This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not
possible to predict all factors. Other risk factors are detailed
from time to time in Great Plains Energy’s and KCP&L’s
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each forward-looking
statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement.
Great Plains Energy and KCP&L undertake no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Kansas City Power & Light CompanyKCP&L 24-hour
Media Hotline, 816-392-9455
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