The Blue Grass Airport partnered with electrical contractor Amteck for the installation of the Level 2 EV chargers at the rental pickup and return lot at the airport, selecting the ChargePoint CP6000 Series – Fleet because the airport’s tenants had them in other locations, so the integration of the technology was seamless in their operations. The charger is equipped with intuitive software, reliable hardware and charging efficiency to offer a streamlined EV-charging experience for airport passengers and rental car tenants alike.
“This helped with the adoption of the new equipment and made the chargers turnkey to the operation,” Miller says. “These did not replace existing chargers.”
The addition of EV charging stations at the airport’s rental car area reflects the airport’s evolving sustainable energy solutions and goals of reducing the airport’s carbon footprint and offering eco-friendly travel options for visitors to the region.
“Our team is excited to partner with Blue Grass Airport to support its expansion with sustainable energy solutions,” says Curtis Rogers, Amteck’s project manager for the airport installation, in a press release. “These EV chargers are a technological upgrade for the airport, and a meaningful step toward reducing Kentucky’s carbon footprint and offering eco-friendly travel options to visitors.”
Since the installation of the chargers, Blue Grass Airport has received numerous compliments from passengers who are grateful to have the option to use an electric vehicle. The airport’s tenants also are satisfied with the performance of the EV chargers and report a more efficient operation for their employees. Considering the airport recently celebrated a record-breaking number of 1,571,805 passengers in 2024, installing EV chargers within the rental car facility simply made sense.
“Also, we’re happy to take advantage of this project as a pilot program for introducing more electric infrastructure in the future –be that electrified aircraft gates, ground support equipment, solar power microgrids, or other technologies,” Miller says.
The movement toward an electric infrastructure is part of Blue Grass Airport’s future vision, but this level of movement in other regional and international airports is dependent on each community and doesn’t necessarily reflect an overarching goal of integrating EV-charging infrastructure in airport operations nationwide.
Lexington is adopting the electric vehicle trend a little slower compared to other regions, yet the airport’s rental car partners are happy with the addition and thankful to have the ability to offer EV options, as most renters who choose an electric vehicle are those who have already adopted the product in their own habits, says Miller.
“Rental car companies are installing these chargers at airports nationwide in anticipation of future demand resulting from wider adoption,” Miller says. “Just like other industries and facilities, airports are also installing chargers in paid parking lots, cell phone waiting areas, or employee parking lots. This project was in response to a request from the rental car companies. We’re happy to support them whenever they introduce new products or amenities to our customers, and this reflects our strategy of offering value to customers wherever and however we can.”
The new EV charging set up is designed to add up to 12 more chargers in the future as demand increases and travelers’ interest in EVs grows.
The newest addition of the EV chargers as part of the airport’s rental car offerings was a good test for the airport as an organization and facility to grow this service as demandincreases, Miller says
“Our growth is already driving us to expand our paid parking lots and terminal roadway footprint,” he adds. “We will soon enter the design phases of terminal building expansion and renovation. These future projects offer more opportunities for us to explore emerging technologies and trends, like supporting additional EV stations.”
The airport is already positioning itself to support the facility’s growth in the most sustainable ways feasible for an organization of its size and scope.
“Airports need to start coordinating with their utility providers now to prepare for the future electrification of our industry and facilities, because our current grids and infrastructure are likely not scaled to support the future expected load airports will put on them,” says Miller.
Maura Keller is a freelance writer based in Plymouth, Minnesota.
Kentucky Airport Boosts Sustainability Efforts
EV Charging Stations Boosts Airport’s Sustainability Efforts
