So you‘re considering an electric vehicle, but not sure what it would really be like in good ol‘ Kansas? Well let me walk you through what owning an EV here looks like when it comes to charging, costs, available incentives, and more. I‘ve crunched the numbers for you as an experienced data analyst and tech enthusiast myself.
Kansas actually has decent and improving EV infrastructure
You might be surprised to discover that Kansas isn‘t doing too bad on the EV readiness front. In 2022, the state secured $40 million in government grants to expand charging infrastructure over 5 years [1]. This is on top of the current 1,200+ public charging stations located around the state [2].
Here‘s a breakdown of Kansas‘ current EV charging landscape:
| Connector Type | Compatible Vehicles | Charging Speed | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| J-1772 | Non-Tesla EVs | Level 1 & 2 | Over 1,200 stations statewide |
| CHAdeMO | Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi | DC Fast Charge | Primarily in larger cities |
| CCS | BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Tesla, etc | DC Fast Charge | Adding more with new funding |
So connector compatibility and charging speed variety is decent, if not amazing. The state is actively looking to improve in these areas though.
Geographically, while EV infrastructure is centered around major cities like Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence and Hays, you can find charging stations in small towns across Kansas too [8].
Now, let‘s talk about the charging costs and total cost of ownership.
EV charging costs compared to gas vehicles
Obviously a major factor to consider is how much it will cost to keep one of these electric cars juiced up.
Kansas electricity rates average around $0.15 per kWh for home charging and $0.23 per kWh at public charging stations [11][12].
Here‘s a comparison of popular EV models and what a full charge would cost at those average rates:
| EV Model | Battery Size | Home Charge Cost | Public Charge Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 50-82 kWh | $7.50-$12.30 | $11.50-$18.86 |
| Chevy Bolt | 66 kWh | $9.90 | $15.18 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 58-77 kWh | $8.70-$11.55 | $13.34-$17.71 |
| Nissan Leaf | 40-62 kWh | $6.00-$9.30 | $9.20-$14.26 |
To put those EV charging costs in perspective, the average gas-powered car in Kansas uses about 500 gallons of fuel per year at a current average gas price of $3.00 per gallon – that‘s $1,500 annually! [27]
So even with slightly higher upfront vehicle prices, EVs offer significant lifetime fuel savings – essentially cutting your annual driving costs in half or more in many cases. Love seeing stats like that!
Maintenance savings offer additional benefits. EVs have far fewer moving parts than gas engines, reducing the need for repairs and upkeep over time.
Plenty of financial incentives in Kansas too
Now, if the charging and operations cost savings don‘t have you convinced yet, check out these great EV ownership incentives available in Kansas:
- Evergy Customers: $250 rebate for installing a qualifying Level 2 home charger [24]
- State Incentives: Up to $2,400 tax rebate when purchasing an EV [25]
- Federal Tax credit: Up to $7,500 credit on federal taxes [26]
That‘s some nice potential savings right there! Particularly the $7,500 federal credit which can make quite an impact on effective vehicle prices.
The state also has plans to introduce more EV incentives over the next 5 years after securing $40 million in grant funding to expand local charging infrastructure [1]. Exciting times ahead!
So in summary – owning an EV in good ol‘ Kansas can definitely work nicely if you run the numbers. Let me know if any other questions pop up! Happy to chat more.
References:
[1] EV Infrastructure Grant Details