Electric vehicle chargers to be installed at toll oases
Gov. Pat Quinn unveiled an initiative to put fast-charge stations for electric vehicle at Illinois Tollway oases.
Quinn, along with representatives from the Illinois Tollway, 350 Green LLC and 7-Eleven, Inc., unveiled the plan to put sites at four locations, with a goal to have stations at all seven tollway oases. Motorists can charge an electric vehicle in under 30 minutes using the current fast-chargers at the 7-Eleven in the oasis.
“We want Illinois to be the greenest state in America,” Quinn said. “By installing the largest network of cutting edge fast-chargers, Illinois will continue to support green jobs and provide people with environmentally-friendly and affordable travel options.”
Through the Chicago-area EV Infrastructure Project, 26 fast-chargers have been installed, with 73 total fast-chargers planned. Eight of these are currently in place at oases along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway at the Des Plaines Oasis and on the Tri-State Tollway at the Lake Forest Oasis, O'Hare Oasis and Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis.
The installations, managed by 350 Green, were performed by Chicago-based JNS Power & Control Systems.
“Today, the tollway is taking steps to ensure that electric vehicle drivers on our roadways have the same convenient access to electricity as other drivers have to fuel,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “At the same time, we are continuing our commitment to ‘clean and green' technology and making the Tollway a leader in environmental sustainability.”
The city of Chicago is overseeing the project's installation of 280 charging stations overall to increase accessibility to EV charging.
“With this announcement, the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois have the largest and most advanced fast-charging EV infrastructure in the U.S.,” said Mariana Gerzanych, co-founder and CEO of 350 Green. “Whether you are at a mall, a drugstore or now on the open road, electric vehicle drivers can take comfort in knowing a charging station will be just around the corner.”
Partnerships with charging station hosts such as 7-Eleven have been key to the rollout of the network across the state. 7-Eleven convenience stores at four of the Illinois Tollway Oases now have dedicated space for fast-charging stations.
“Our support for electric vehicle charging stations is a perfect fit with our commitment to providing travelers with the things that make their trip more enjoyable — whether it's our coffee, energy drinks or variety of fresh food products we offer at our stores,” said 7-Eleven Market Manager Tim Hale. “Now we offer the most advanced charging technology to people driving the most advanced vehicles.”
Before plugging in to one of the Toll road's fast-chargers, drivers must purchase a payment card from 350 Green at www.350Green.com/card. The $21 card includes three 15-minute sessions at fast-charging stations.
The Chicago-area EV Infrastructure Project is funded in part by the state's Illinois Jobs Now! capital plan and Clean Cities Grant funds that the city of Chicago received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The project is one of several initiatives now under way in Illinois to promote the adoption and use of electric vehicles.