A Circle K convenience store in Richmond, Kentucky, is opening the state’s first electric vehicle (EV) charging station funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, according to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.
The Circle K station will help the Bluegrass State become a leader in building out reliable EV charging infrastructure and stay on track with its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, it said.
Kentucky has plans for an additional 38 fast charging stations along 11 Interstate Highways and eight parkways. The first station currently features the Combined Charging System connector, which allows for alternating current and direct current charging; the SAE J3400 North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, a charging connector system for EVs developed by Tesla, will be added later this year to ensure all types of current and future EV makes and models can use the station as needed. These NEVI stations complement existing charging and private investment in the growing charging network.
“The number of registered EVs in Kentucky continues to grow, and we want to ensure current and future owners have a reliable network of charging stations to support long-distance EV travel,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray.
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, added, "The Bluegrass State is galloping toward a greener future with the official opening of Kentucky's first NEVI-funded EV charging station today. This station helps fill gaps in our national network of 193,000 chargers, which has doubled since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration and increases the ratio of chargers to EVs so more drivers can count on getting a charge wherever they go."
Alimentation Couche-Tard is No. 2 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
Laval, Quebec-based Couche-Tard operates in 31 countries and territories, with more than 16,700 stores. Its network includes more than 7,100 stores in the United States under the Circle K and Holiday Stationstores banners, and approximately 2,100 in Canada under the Circle K and Couche-Tard banners.
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