Electric Vehicles in Memphis

All Tennessee residents are now eligible to participate in The Electric Vehicle (EV) Project, including customers in the Memphis area. Memphis will also receive public charging infrastructure as a result.

As the project manager for The EV Project, ECOtality will oversee the installation of commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. The project will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of 8,300 EVs. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant of $114.8 million, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The grants are matched by private investment, bringing the total value of the project to approximately $230 million.

MLGW will be heavily involved in this initiative.

• As part of its commitment to Green and renewable energy initiatives, MLGW supports the inclusion of the Memphis area in The EV Project, which includes other Tennessee cities such as Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.

• The EV Project will study the electric vehicle environment, collecting data that characterizes the utilization of charging infrastructure, the interaction between vehicle use and charger availability, the effectiveness of public charging models, the interaction of charge infrastructure with the electric grid and the effectiveness of various charge infrastructure locations.

• MLGW will work with the municipalities to identify and install charging stations at different locations in Shelby County.

• Charging stations should be installed by September 2011.

• MLGW is working with the City of Memphis, TVA, and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to study how the new vehicles would affect the power distribution network.

• The EV Project is scheduled last through June of 2013.

• MLGW is purchasing five electric vehicles in 2011 for company use.

• MLGW plans to simplify charging needs of our customers by providing and maintaining all charging stations.

• MLGW encourages the expanded use of electric vehicles as alternatives to petroleum-fueled vehicles for area residents, businesses and organizations. Customers that operate delivery services are especially well-suited to take advantage of the benefits of electric vehicles.