The City of Knoxville is the first Tennessee city to join Charging Smart.

 The new technical assistance and designation program provides no-cost technical assistance to local governments in order to facilitate equitable and widespread electric-vehicle adoption in their communities. 

“The City of Knoxville invests in EV chargers to achieve our sustainability and air quality goals as well as to support infrastructure for residents and visitors who drive electric vehicles,” says Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. “Membership in the Charging Smart community will help us continue to advance our achievements in EV technology, help more people adopt EVs, and serve as a leader for cities across the state.”

The Charging Smart program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office. Drive Electric Tennessee, the program’s Tennessee liaison, invited the City to be the state’s first member city.

The City currently has 40 public EV chargers in 14 City-owned parking garages, public parks and municipal buildings. An additional 30 charging slots are being installed in the City County Building garage to support a portion of the City’s 40 EV Fleet vehicles, which are utilized by several departments including Fleet Administration, Inspections, Engineering, Fire, Police and Public Service.

“Because transportation represents 59 percent of community emissions, the City is motivated to diversify our vehicle fleet and ensure we’re using lower-carbon fuels as much as possible,” says Fleet Services Director Nick Bradshaw.

EV drivers can locate area chargers by using the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, PlugShare and ChargeHub.

Learn more about the Office of Sustainability at KnoxvilleTN.gov/Sustainability.