Find out why you should be driving electric

Consumers encouraged to learn more during National Drive Electric Week

(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Drive Electric Week. The celebration, which takes place Sept. 26 through Oct. 4, is an annual nationwide effort to raise awareness of the many benefits of electric and hybrid vehicles.

As Kentucky’s largest energy providers, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company offer education, programs and resources designed to help consumers make informed decisions as they consider making the transition to an electric vehicle (EV).

Check out three top facts about plugging in below.

1. EV charging infrastructure is on the rise.
   LG&E and KU have installed about 20% of Kentucky’s publicly available EV charging stations. The utilities offer businesses the opportunity to host charging stations of their own and are pursuing plans to install more charging stations in the near future.
    
2. Charging an EV from home is as simple as having a basic wall outlet.
   A common misconception about driving electric is that extensive, special equipment is needed to charge EVs. In actuality, a Level 1 charger uses a standard 120-volt outlet and takes about 6-24 hours. A Level 2 charger uses a regular 240-volt outlet (also known as a dryer outlet) and takes anywhere from two to 12 hours for a full charge.
    
3. The cost of electric vehicles is dropping.
   Comparing vehicles is easier than ever with LG&E and KU’s online Marketplace. The tool has data on more than 2,300 conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles and provides side-by-side comparisons on criteria that interest customers most. Visitors can search sticker prices, a one-of-a-kind efficiency rating and lifetime costs while evaluating whether an EV purchase is right for their family.

Visit lge-ku.com/ev for more facts and resources. To engage in National Drive Electric Week, visit driveelectricweek.org and plug in your zip code to learn about virtual events in your area.

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Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 329,000 natural gas and 418,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 558,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.