A Legacy of Progress: Celebrating Our Commitment to Sustainability in the New Year

As we mark a new year, Metropolitan Energy Center reaffirms our commitment to the vitality, health and efficiency  of our community through science, truth, and action. For 40 years, we have worked tirelessly to connect science with people, driving solutions that benefit our communities and our planet.

Science is a universal language that transcends boundaries. It empowers us to confront challenges and create a better tomorrow. Together with a community that deeply cares about the environment and human impact on the earth, we remain steadfast in our mission to advance sustainable energy and environmental solutions.

Today, we continue to support accurate information and champion evidence-based approaches for a healthier, more sustainable future. But we can’t do it alone. Your support is crucial in helping us meet the moment and carry this mission forward.

Join us as we continue a legacy of hope, progress, and care—for people, for the planet, for prosperity  and for the future.

Learn more and support our mission: metroenergy.org/togetherfortomorrow

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zTrip Brings High-Speed EV Charging to Kansas City – With A Fleet-Sized Twist

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By David Albrecht

You’re probably familiar with zTrip – if you’ve spent much time in Kansas City, you’ve likely seen their branded taxis and vans at some point.  zTrip has been described as “a ride-hailing/taxi hybrid company” – in the age of Uber and Lyft, a good description of this KC-based business.  Part of WHC Worldwide/zTrip, they serve customers in 28 other locations, operating in mid-sized cities like Indianapolis and Pensacola, and in major metros like Dallas and Denver.  Bonus fun fact – they’re also the largest taxi fleet operator in America. 

The company is on the move in other ways, as a recent event in downtown Kansas City showed – moving into the electric vehicle (EV) charging.   zTrip’s charging site – aka PowerUp Point Kansas City – is located at 1334 Virginia, and is set up for high-speed charging.  It’s not a garden-variety charger access.  Its goal, along with charging its own EVs, is to provide charging access to delivery and taxi fleets interested in using EVs, but uninterested in the costs of installing and maintaining their own chargers.

This project is a partnership.  From the get-go, Inspiration Mobility has been assisting zTrip with the process of assessment, design and installation of the charging lot, which is set up for light-duty and medium-duty cars, trucks and vans.  They’ll continue working with zTrip, with additional PowerUp Point locations set to open in Pittsburgh and other cities during 2025.  We’re looking forward to learning more about this innovative approach to making electrified transportation more efficient and more affordable.

zTrip CEO Bill George speaks at the recent rollout of the company’s high-speed charging lot. 

Part of the charging array at the Kansas City PowerUp Point 

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