The City of Knoxville has reached an agreement with Car Charging Group Inc., the largest owner, operator and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, for the continued operation and maintenance of the 10 Blink EV charging stations located at the Market Square and Civic Coliseum parking garages. 

These stations, along with two solar arrays and battery storage, were originally installed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory through an agreement with the City of Knoxville. ORNL installed these stations as part of a statewide Department of Energy research project. 

In February 2015, the City assumed ownership of the Blink EV charging stations, solar arrays and associated equipment at the conclusion of ORNL’s research project, and the EV charging stations have remained free to the public since that time.  

Beginning on Aug. 1, 2015, a standard charging fee of 4 cents per minute for Blink members and 6 cents per minute for Blink guests will be applied to these stations.  The charging fee is the standard rate in place at all Blink EV charging stations included in the current contract between CarCharging and the City of Knoxville.

The City of Knoxville’s Blink Level 2 EV charging stations quickly recharge an electric vehicle’s battery. EV drivers can easily become a Blink member at no cost and request Blink’s InCard at www.BlinkNetwork.com and enjoy discounted charging fees at these locations. Blink’s InCard also allows drivers to use thousands of additional public Blink EV charging locations on the Blink Network, the software that operates, monitors and tracks the Blink stations and all of its charging data. Blink EV chargers also accept direct payment via the Blink mobile app and Blink Customer Support (888-998-2546 BLINK). 

Users can pinpoint the City’s EV charging station locations using the maps at www.BlinkNetwork.com or the Blink mobile app. 

For more information about the City’s 24 Electric Vehicle charging stations, please visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/sustainability. For more information about EV infrastructure throughout the region, please visit www.etcleanfuels.org/evse-locations.