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WHC Worldwide, the company that owns zTrip, opened an EV-charging network facility in the Kansas City metro and has plans to the number of EV vehicles in its local fleet.
WHC Worldwide wrapped construction on a charging network that will bolster the metro's electric-vehicle infrastructure.
“One of the issues we had as we started to deploy some EVs in the area, is there just wasn't enough charging infrastructure at all, let alone high-speed charging,” said Bill George, founder and CEO of Kansas City-based WHC Worldwide, which operates zTrip.
The national taxi and fleet company partnered with Inspiration Mobility Group, an EV-fleet management company, to create a supercharger EV-charging facility at its Kansas City headquarters. The charging hub, which will open to the public in January, will boost charging infrastructure and help WHC Worldwide continue to electrify its fleet services.
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The charging hub features 12 DC fast chargers, also known as Level 3 chargers, that usually can juice up an EV in less than an hour. The network can expand to 18 chargers to keep up with WHC’s electrification plans.
WHC gradually has been electrifying its more than 3,000 taxis nationwide: Its zTrip fleet includes around 100 fully electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The company eventually will consider electrifying its heavier-duty vehicle services, such as its SuperShuttle Express airport transportation service, George said.
The charging hub is on WHC’s property near Interstate 70 and The Paseo.
When WHC’s new charging network opens to the public, it also will create another revenue stream for the company. Because the charging network is close to the highway and GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, George sees it playing a crucial role when Kansas City hosts soccer matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The project was partly covered by some contracts WHC had with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, George said.
WHC became the largest taxi fleet company in the U.S. after it acquired zTrip in September 2019. The company operates the zTrip taxi service, a black car airport service, a gently used vehicle services line and its SuperShuttle Express airport transportation service.
The company already is pursuing plans to build other charging hubs with Inspiration Mobility Group. Construction on another site in Pittsburgh should wrap in three weeks, George said. The company is evaluating plans to build additional charging facilities in Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Florida, and at Dulles International Airport in Washington.
This move adds to WHC’s prior investments in electrification. At its headquarters, the company previously installed around eight Level 2 chargers, which require 6 to 8 hours to charge an EV.
Switching to EVs is a big investment to start. But it’s one that has already led to significant savings for WHC. The company has found that EVs require lower maintenance costs, George said.
The new charging network gives WHC more motivation to expand its local EV fleet, which already includes more than 30 EV and hybrid-EV taxis.
“We'll be adding some [EVs] now that we have the infrastructure,” George said.