Simon to help promote electric vehicles in Illinois

CARTERVILLE, Ill. - Community colleges throughout Illinois are planning a three-day road trip to help promote electric vehicle charging stations.

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will help kick off the event on Monday, June 23, at John A. Logan College in Carterville. It will end on Wednesday about 370 miles to the north at College of Lake County in Grayslake.

The car will stop at 11 community colleges that have electric vehicle charging stations.

The Electric Vehicle Road Trip is being organized by the Illinois Green Economy Network, and the goal is to demonstrate how community colleges have helped strengthen the state's electric vehicle infrastructure.

Nate Keener is director of sustainability at Lewis and Clark Community College. He says the trip is also meant to show prospective drivers that they can travel long distances in electric vehicles.