In 2016, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) completed a preliminary scoping analysis of the effects of transportation electrification in the Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) service territory. This project focused on analyzing and valuing plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) adoption in the context of KCP&L’s Clean Charge Network, which consists of over 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations, more than any city in the United States.

The analyses cover PEV adoption scenarios both nationally and in the Great Plain Energy Service (GPES) territory, in which KCP&L is included. Charging technology trends and the potential implications of PEV adoption on the environment, the GPES electric system, and ratepayers are addressed.

EPRI found that a significant number of PEV could be supported on the GPES system with minimal grid impacts for the foreseeable future, but suggests further study may be warranted to better understand the charging behavior of residential customers to better predict how and to what level PEV charging can be actively managed.