East Tennessee drivers and those passing through now have more electric vehicle (EV) charging options. KUB installed two public EV fast charging stations - one in Downtown Knoxville and one in Seymour. These locations fill key alternative fuel corridor gaps on I-75 and Route 441.
These stations are part of the Fast Charge Tennessee Network, a partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), and Seven States Power Corporation. These charging stations are the 99th and 100th to open as part of this partnership, marking an exciting milestone for the Fast Charge Tennessee Network.
With support from the City of Knoxville and Food City in Seymour, four chargers were installed in Downtown Knoxville and five in Seymour. Each charger can deliver up to 150 kilowatts(kW) per vehicle for 0.40 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). A full charge typically takes 30 minutes or less depending on the vehicle, allowing drivers to charge quickly when away from home or traveling.
"Supporting the adoption of electric vehicles is a major component of KUB's sustainability efforts. We are grateful for the partnerships we have that address barriers to EV adoption," KUB President and CEO Gabriel J. Bolas II said. "These partnerships make our work toward a more sustainable future even easier, and we're thrilled to see new public charging stations filling those fuel corridor gaps."
KUB's Promenade garage in downtown Knoxville also has four Level 2 charging stations for public use. The City of Knoxville currently offers 36 Level 2 EV charging ports throughout the city.
"We are so grateful to KUB for the addition of 4 new electric charging stations downtown," Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said. "This investment goes hand-in-hand with the City's sustainability efforts, and will help us attain a cleaner, greener Knoxville."
Seymour's newly installed EV fast chargers are the area's first public chargers.
"Food City is committed to increasing sustainability throughout our market area. We are proud to partner with KUB, the City of Knoxville, and TVA to install an electric vehicle charging station at our Seymour Food City," Food City CEO and President Steven C. Smith said. "We currently have charging stations available at several store locations and hope to continue our efforts to make public charging stations more accessible throughout our region."
Similar to the partnership between KUB, the City of Knoxville, and Food City, TVA has brought together local power companies, state and local government partners, and others throughout the Valley to pave the way for over 200,000 EVs on Tennessee roads by 2028. Fast Charge Tennessee aims to make driving EVs easier for EV drivers by installing charging stations every 50 miles along Tennessee's interstates and major highways. Approximately 50 new charging locations will go along prioritized corridor infrastructure gaps, tripling Tennessee's existing fast charging network.
The benefits that these EVs bring to the Tennessee Valley region are significant:
- Reducing carbon emissions from gasoline vehicles by almost 1 million metric tons per year or the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by 1 million acres of U.S. forests in one year
- Reinvesting $120 million in the local economy every year from electric refueling
- Saving drivers up to $1,000 in fuel and maintenance costs every year
"Today, EVs use our clean, low-cost, reliable electricity to connect communities and commerce across our region," TVA EnergyRight Vice President Monika Beckner said. "Taking a leadership role in EV charging infrastructure allows TVA to save drivers money and attract good jobs and tourism- all powered by electricity from TVA and your local power company."
For more information about KUB's environmental efforts, visit www.kub.org/green.
KUB provides more than 486,000 customers in Knox and parts of seven surrounding counties with safe and reliable electric, fiber, natural gas, wastewater treatment, and water services.
