The Business Journals
  • National
  • Albany
  • Albuquerque
  • Atlanta
  • Austin
  • Baltimore
  • Birmingham
  • Boston
  • Buffalo
  • Charlotte
  • Chicago
  • Cincinnati
  • Cleveland
  • Columbus
  • Dallas
  • Dayton
  • Denver
  • Greensboro/Winston-Salem
  • Honolulu
  • Houston
  • Jacksonville
  • Kansas City
  • Los Angeles
  • Louisville
  • Memphis
  • Miami/Fort Lauderdale
  • Milwaukee
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul
  • Nashville
  • New York
  • Orlando
  • Philadelphia
  • Phoenix
  • Pittsburgh
  • Portland
  • Providence
  • Raleigh/Durham
  • Sacramento
  • San Antonio
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Silicon Valley
  • St. Louis
  • Tampa Bay
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Wichita
  • Sign In
    Existing Members
  • Become a Member
    It’s FREE!
Kansas CityBusiness Journal
Best Places to Work
How these KC companies keep employees happy
LOWEST PRICE OF THE YEAR
SAVE OVER 60%
  • Latest News
  • Lists & Leads
  • Commercial Real Estate
  • Banking
  • Technology
  • Residential Real Estate
  • Food & Lifestyle
  • KC Inno
  •   Events
  • NextGen Leaders Award
  • Best Places to Work
  • Women Who Mean Business
  • Nominations

For the exclusive use of

From the Kansas City Business Journal:

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2024/11/20/whc-worldwide-ev-charging-inspiration-mobility.html

SUBSCRIBER CONTENT:

  • Technology

zTrip owner bolsters EV-charging network with new facility in Kansas City

  • Print

  • Order Reprints
Electric vehicle charging
WHC Worldwide, a national taxi and fleet company, partners with Inspiration Mobility Group to create a supercharger EV charging facility located at its headquarters in Kansas City.
Getty Images / Mihajlo Maricic / EyeEm
Grace Mayer
By Grace Mayer – Staff Writer, Kansas City Business Journal
Nov 20, 2024

Preview this article 1 min

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.

THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARTICLE IS FOR PREMIUM MEMBERS

Continue Reading With Your Subscription

Access 4 weeks of business news and insights

Subscribe for only $4

Subscribe

Already have a paid subscription? Sign in

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.

GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY

Find Local Events Near You

Connect with a community of local professionals.

Explore All Events

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.

Related Articles

  • See how much juice KC's EV-charging network has
    See how much juice KC's EV-charging network has
  • Electrifying business fleets brings possibilities, challenges
    Electrifying business fleets brings possibilities, challenges
  • 'Timing wasn't right' for acquisition deal of local taxi company
    'Timing wasn't right' for acquisition deal of local taxi company
  • KC transportation company prepares to pick up Texas cab operations
    KC transportation company prepares to pick up Texas cab operations
  • KC businessman helps revive SuperShuttle, rebuild its airport presence
    KC businessman helps revive SuperShuttle, rebuild its airport presence

Recommended

Retailing
Mega-convenience store chain Buc-ee’s seeks incentives for KCK travel center
Commercial Real Estate
Private high school begins construction on $5M expansion, launches campaign to fund it
Commercial Real Estate
UG approves plans for massive Buc-ee’s near Kansas Speedway

More For You

More
More For You

Here's who KC will contract to build $217M South Loop Park over interstate - Kansas City Business Journal

Here's who KC will contract to build $217M South Loop Park over interstate - Kansas City Business Journal

Kansas City wins federal funds to build out EV-charging infrastructure - Kansas City Business Journal

Kansas City wins federal funds to build out EV-charging infrastructure - Kansas City Business Journal

Kansas City streetcar ridership outpaces many U.S. systems, report says - Kansas City Business Journal

Kansas City streetcar ridership outpaces many U.S. systems, report says - Kansas City Business Journal

Mega-convenience store chain Buc-ee’s seeks incentives for KCK travel center - Kansas City Business Journal

Mega-convenience store chain Buc-ee’s seeks incentives for KCK travel center - Kansas City Business Journal

UG approves plans for massive Buc-ee’s near Kansas Speedway - Kansas City Business Journal

UG approves plans for massive Buc-ee’s near Kansas Speedway - Kansas City Business Journal

Visit KC names its first COO as organization gears up for World Cup - Kansas City Business Journal

Visit KC names its first COO as organization gears up for World Cup - Kansas City Business Journal

Latest People On The Move

More
Latest People On The Move

Philip Bouillette

Fifth Third Bank

POTM: Philip Bouillette

Tedd Carew

UMB Bank

POTM: Tedd Carew

Celia Huneycutt

ReeceNichols Real Estate

POTM: Celia Huneycutt

Desiree LaForge, MBA, PHR

Mize CPAs Inc.

POTM: Desiree LaForge, MBA, PHR

Jim Scott Polsinelli

HudsonLake

POTM: Jim Scott Polsinelli
Kansas City Business Journal
  • Home
  • News
  • Lists & Leads
  • People
  • Companies
  • Events
  • Store

Subscribers

  • Start a Subscription
  • Subscriber-Only Content
  • Digital Edition
  • Book of Lists
  • Book of Lists - Unlimited
  • Manage your Account
  • Manage My Advertising
Subscriber Content

About & Contact

  • About Us
  • About The Business Journals
  • Advertise
  • Help & FAQs
  • Circulation Sales Center Directory
  • Reprints

Apps & Syndication

  • Mobile Apps
  • Syndication/RSS

Follow Us

  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • facebook
  • instagram

Newsletters

  • Sign Up Now

ACBJ

  • American City Business Journals
  • AmericanInno
  • BizEquity
  • Bizwomen
  • Hemmings
  • User Agreement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ad Choices
  • Site Map

© 2024 American City Business Journals. All rights reserved. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated August 13, 2024) and Privacy Policy (updated July 3, 2024). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of American City Business Journals.

Company Logo

Privacy Configurations

Currently, only residents from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Virginia can opt out of certain Tracking Technologies through our Consent Management Platform. Additional options regarding these technologies may be available on your device, browser, or through industry options like AdChoices. Please see ourPrivacy Policy for more information.

Manage Cookie Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Always Active

These technologies are necessary for the website to function as intended and cannot be switched off. You may be able to set your browser or device to block or alert you about these technologies, but some parts of the website may not work as intended.

Cookie List

Search Icon
label
Consent Leg.Interest
label
label
label
Powered by Onetrust

Screen overlay

No description

We noticed that you might be using an ad blocker. Keep reading for only $4.

When you use an ad blocker or private browsing, and are not logged in as a paid subscriber in this market, we no longer generate the revenue we rely on to bring you exclusive local business news.

To continue reading, take advantage of our introductory subscription offer, or disable your ad blocker or private mode.

Subscribe Now
Already a subscriber? Log in

overlay title

overlay description

Kansas CityBusiness Journal

SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR  $220

$70
/
52 weeks

Go beyond the headlines with our lowest price of the year!

SUBSCRIBE NOW