Electric vehicle charging stations:
Convenient, affordable and easy to use.
A Primer to Public Charging.
Charge while shop, play or work.
There are public chargers everywhere – at grocery stores, restaurants, parks, and maybe even at your place of work. Being able to charge up while doing your shopping? Now that’s a time saver!
Bye-bye range anxiety.
Most drivers find that their electric vehicle has all the range they need by charging up at home overnight and waking up at 100%. After all, the average U.S. commute is only 40 miles per day. But if you do rack up the miles, know that there's likely a public charger along your route.
Say yes to road trips.
You'll find charging stations at rest stops and businesses right off the major interstates around the Kansas and Missouri region. Using a fast charger, you can add enough range to get to your next destination in the time it takes to stretch your legs.
What's your public charging style?
Are you a hummingbird that flits about town and tops off your battery as you go? Or are you more slow-drip, happy to gradually charge while reading at a coffee shop? Perhaps you're a bit more high-speed, and want your car recharged quickly so you can go farther faster. Whatever your charging style, public chargers will get you there.
Types of Public Chargers: a Field Guide.
Level 2 chargers
AC charging (also called "Level 2") is your best choice for routine charging, adding about 25 miles of Range Per Hour (RPH). It's a good choice anytime you’ll be parked for an hour or more.
Charging Speed
25 mi/hr
Miles of battery range replenished per hour.
Connector types
Standard Port J1772
Best Used For
DC Fast chargers
DC fast charging (also called "Level 3") can add range to your car faster, up to 160 miles of Range Per Hour (RPH). It's a great option for when you are short on time or traveling long distances.
Charging Speed
160 mi/hr
Miles of battery range replenished per hour.
Connector types
CHAdeMO and SAE Combo CCS
Best Used For
How to Charge at a Public Charger.
Step 1: Find a charging station.
Locate a station near you using your electric car’s in-dash display or a phone app. Most charging networks like ChargePoint have their own app, or try a third-party app like PlugShare to see lots of networks in one view.
Step 2: Choose your V.I.P. parking spot.
Most electric vehicle chargers are labeled "EV Parking Only", giving you have a dedicated spot to charge up. Often this means rockstar parking for EV drivers and can be a big benefit in crowded parking lots. But please, be kind and only park here if you are actually charging.
Step 3: Activate the charger.
Often, activating a charger is as simple as holding your account-linked phone or card in front of the station. In our region, the Clean Charge Network is comprised of ChargePoint chargers. We'll send you an RFID card in the mail when you sign up for the network. If you have the Chargepoint app, you can also link your account and use your phone to activate the charger. Other charging networks may use their own apps or allow you to swipe a credit card.
- Option 1: Tap your RFID card.
- Option 2: Hover your phone.
- Option 3: Push "Start Charge" in the app.
Step 4: Remove the connector from its holster.
Once the charger is activated, you will hear a click when the connector is unlocked. Just push down the button on top to unlatch it, and lift the connector out of its holster on the station.
Step 5: Connect to your car’s charging port.
Pop the charging door on your car. Plug the connector into your vehicle’s inlet charging port. In most EVs, connectors are a standard design specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers, so you don't need to worry about compatibility. For Level 2 Chargers, this is a J1772 connector. For DC Fast Chargers, it will be a CCS1, CCS2, or CHAdeMO connector.
Step 6: Beep, beep, blink.
Your indicator light blinks to verify the vehicle is charging. You’ll get up to five miles of range per hour of charging. Like your phone, you can charge overnight while you sleep. The next day, just unplug, put away the cord, and drive away.
Time and Cost to Charge 40 Miles of Range.
Level 2 Chargers
Charge Time
40 Miles of Range
Charge cost
40 Miles of Range
$.16 / kwh*
dc fast chargers
Charge Time
40 Miles of Range
Charge Cost
40 Miles of Range
$.20 / kwh*
*Electric cost estimates based on driving a fully electric car averaging 30kwh per 100 miles fuel efficiency. Electricity rate is based on an averaged rate across the Evergy Clean Charge Network service area. Rates effective as of 12/21/2023. Other charging networks and chargers might charge different rates.