Platte City is now the home of an electric vehicle charging station.
Last week, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative unveiled a station located behind the Platte County Community Center North location in Platte City. It is the second electric charging machine for PCEC, the other at its headquarters in Kearney.
The city worked with PCEC, Mid-Continent Public Library and the community center for the location.
“It is a momentous day in Platte City history,” mayor Frank Offutt proclaimed. “It is a dream come to fruition.”
The project started about six months ago and Offutt helped line up the support. He noted the easy access between the library and community center was a plus.
The addition in Platte City gives a station in the northern part of the county, while there are more stations in the southern portion of the county ran by KCP&L.
PCEC added an electric vehicle to its fleet two months ago.
“If you have electric vehicles, we need to have charging stations,” said David Deihl, the CEO of PCEC. “The more outlying areas in the Kansas City metro are really short in EV (electric vehicle) charging stations. Kansas City has one of the largest amounts of electric vehicles in the Midwest. For Platte-Clay Electric, based on geography, we see this is a great opportunity.”
PCEC brought its Chevy Bolt to the ribbon cutting ceremony. Deihl noted the vehicle could run 230 miles per charge, stating it would be great for a commuter that worked in downtown Kansas City.
The co-op is offering $250 rebates for installation of phase two charging systems at customers’ houses and Deihl noted contractors in the area are even accommodating a circuit for an electric charging station in new homes.
PCEC customers can use the charging station for free for the next six months before regular electric rates apply.
It is recommended for those charging at home to do so between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“It’s a good way for us to be able to help our members in offering charging an EV,” Deihl said.
The new station will allow PCEC to see the amount of electric vehicles in the county and if there is a need to install more EV charging stations.