You won't find a gas station on the downtown square in Ozark, but there is a new place to power up your car.

"We're standing in front of the first free charging station in Ozark. Empire put this out here and we're only a block off the square. We encourage people to come downtown and to charge here at empire," said Mike Hayward, Community Development Manager for Empire District Electric Company.

The charging stations are part of the company's new electric car initiative and rebate program called EVOLVe.

"We hope getting more charging stations out will cause people to be able to buy the electric vehicle," said Hayward.

Organizers say ditching fuel-only cars can help reduce our carbon footprint and save money.

"In a five year cost of ownership, gas would have to be at $1.25 for five years to offset the ownership costs of an electric vehicle," said Hayward.

"I don't think we're going to see $1.25 gas for five years. Also, the maintenance is less because you're using less mechanical parts, you're using some electric motor components so you aren't doing oil changes and as much maintenance to your vehicle," Hayward explained.

This new addition in Ozark follows installs in Joplin and Branson, and company leaders say there are many more to come.

"Our goal is to put in the neighborhood of 200 charging stations in the Empire service territory," said Hayward.

Ozark city leaders are happy to be a part of this effort.

"I think the charging stations are very exciting. It's great to have the first ones downtown. I think Empire is doing a wonderfully progressive thing by bringing them to the city of Ozark," said Steve Childers, Ozark City Administrator.

It's a move that could help boost the local economy.

"If someone were to park their car and be able to charge it up while they go and do a little shopping or maybe eat at the restaurants, that's going to be a neat thing," said Childers.

"Again, it's bringing people downtown and that's what you want to do, to energize that central business district as much as possible which will lead to more improvements," Childers added.

Empire's EVOLVe initiative also includes providing rebates to customers as an incentive to go electric. Empire customers are eligible for a $2,000 direct consumer rebate with the purchase or lease of a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) or a $1,000 rebate with the purchase or lease of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Rebates at this level will be available through December 31, 2016 or while funds last.

For information on the EVOLVe program, visit www.evolvewithempire.com.