Kempower and PowerUp America have opened a four-dispenser, 800-kW EV charging site in Manchester, Kentucky, the first of the two companies’ planned Southeast buildout. The Kempower site is designed for pull-through access and covered charging bays, aimed at both local drivers and highway travelers in Eastern Kentucky. Monil Malhotra, president of Kempower North America, said reliable, user-friendly infrastructure is central to making EV ownership accessible to more drivers. The opening follows a wave of PowerUp site awards the two companies announced across the Southeast last fall.
Highlights
- Four Kempower Flex Satellite dispensers offer both NACS and CCS1 connectors, with up to 800 kW of available charging power across the site
- The site is the first of 12 PowerUp/Kempower projects; 11 additional sites are under development across Georgia
- Design includes pull-through accessibility and covered charging bays
- A public ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for July 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET
Dual-Connector Fast Charging
The Manchester site uses four Kempower Flex Satellites, dispensers built with both NACS and CCS1 cables so drivers don’t need an adapter regardless of vehicle brand. Combined, the site offers up to 800 kW of available charging power. Kempower says the layout, with pull-through stalls and a covered canopy, was built around driver comfort as much as charging speed.
“Reliable, user-friendly charging infrastructure plays an important role in making EV ownership accessible for more drivers,” said Malhotra. “As we celebrate the launch of PowerUp’s new site in Kentucky, we look forward to continuing to expand access to fast-charging solutions, designed with the driver in mind, across a critical region for EV adoption.”
Part of a Broader Southeast Buildout
Manchester is the first site to open under a partnership through which PowerUp is delivering 12 total charging projects with Kempower hardware. Eleven more sites are currently under development across Georgia, extending the companies’ footprint beyond the Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky contracts they announced last fall.
Josh Turner, CEO of PowerUp, framed the opening as a template for the rest of the rollout. “This site represents far more than another place to charge. It demonstrates what EV infrastructure should look like when reliability, safety, and the driver experience come first,” Turner said. “We are honored to partner with Kempower to bring this vision to life, and we are grateful to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Manchester community for their partnership. This is the first of many communities where PowerUp will invest in infrastructure that drivers can depend on for years to come.”
Site Details
The station is located at 425 KY-80 in Manchester, Kentucky, and is open for public use 24/7. Kempower and PowerUp will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site on July 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET.
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