Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas and Electric are looking to increase access to electric power charging stations across the state.
The companies filed requests with the Kentucky Service Commission Friday in light of a report by the Electric Power Research Institute that indicates interest in electric transportation is growing.
Kentucky Utilities Spokeswoman Natasha Collins says requests from customers and the government also spurs movement towards projected future demands.
“There has to be an investment in charging stations, and that will help to do things like combat what they call range anxiety, where essentially consumers fear that their battery range isn’t sufficient for their driving patterns. So this allows consumers to have more confidence in that.” Collins said.
The power stations are estimated to provide at least 20 miles of additional charge for the electric vehicles.
The Electric Power Research Institute reports more than 15,000 electric vehicles have been registered in the state since 2010. Currently, there are about 30 public charging stations in Kentucky. Collins says the locations as well as price for installation and rates are still being determined. She says having the stations would help in meeting customer needs and learning more about the market in general.
“The technology involved, the infrastructure, to collect more information about the electric vehicle charging market, and to gage some of our customers preferences as well as to assess whether there is potential for a broader deployment of charging stations.” Collins said.
The Electric Power Research institute estimates that, by 2050, the electricity sector could reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1030 million metric tons, relative to 2015 levels, a 45% reduction.
