New contract between Enel X Way, LG&E and KU to expand public electric vehicle charging access in Kentucky

Over the next five years, as part of a recently signed contract between Enel X Way North America and the utilities Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU), Kentucky will gain new DC fast electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and more.

The arrangement will include hardware, software, operations, and maintenance services. Enel X won the right to the contract through a competitive bidding process with its partners. As a result, it will move forward with the project’s first phase, working to deploy fast EV charging stations to four locations yet to be determined by LG&E and KU. It will build those sites this year, though, and eventually, provide EV drives with access to eight 350 kW fast charging stations.

“As part of our business, we’re constantly working to understand our customers’ energy needs, how those are evolving, and to develop programs and services to assist them,” Eileen Saunders, LG&E and KU vice president of customer services, said. “We know our customers, like motorists across the nation, are increasingly interested in driving electric and many of them will do so within this decade. We’ve made it a priority to do what we can to expand the EV charging network and to empower them with the information they need to confidently make the switch.”

This is not the first time Enel has partnered with LG&E and KU. The three have worked together for years on customized energy-reduction plans provided through the Commercial Demand Conservation Program. Enel X Way operates in 16 countries and currently manages around 160,000 charging ports in North America as it pushes for electric mobility.

“As the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act aims to develop a national network of 500,000 EV chargers, Enel X Way is supporting efforts to build out and optimize EV charging infrastructure in states across the country alongside our trusted partners,” Chris Baker, head of Enel X Way North America, said. “With federal NEVI funding and LG&E and KU’s investment in EV infrastructure, Kentucky will be accelerating EV adoption and bringing range confidence to new EV drivers.”

The state of Kentucky is also set to put up $86.9 million for EV charging infrastructure over the next five years, with matching funds.