Illinois EPA Will Install 643 DCFC Ports From Grant Awards for Public EV Charging Infrastructure

With EV charging becoming more accessible, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) will be installing 643 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports for electric vehicle (EV) owners. The total installation will total an investment of over $25 million as part of the Driving a Cleaner Illinois program.

Illinois EPA’s Director John J. Kim announced that the 643 DCFC ports will be placed at 141 locations across Illinois. Authorized under the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), the grants also come from previous funding, including the $12.6 million funding awarded in Volkswagen Settlement funding in 2023.

“Through these grants, Illinois will increase the number of fast charging ports by over 100 percent, resulting in nearly 1,000 more fast charging ports available for Illinois’ EV motorists and visitors,” stated Director John J. Kim. “This is significant progress in building out EV charging infrastructure throughout Illinois, with more opportunities on the way.”

The public areas where these charging stations will be settled include shopping malls, retail stores, gas stations, and hotels. There will also be additional funding awarded to places that are in Equity Investment Eligible Communities. Moreover, the funds can complement identical rebate programs by companies like ComEd. These types of funds will provide more incentives for business and public sector entities to invest in EV charging infrastructure.

Governor JB Pritzker adds to the discussion about the impact of these grants and how they would benefit the public, stating, “Thanks to recent grant awards, my administration will double the number of publicly available fast charging ports—putting us one step closer to our goal of reaching 100% clean energy by 2050.”

These grants in EV charging infrastructure in Illinois will boost the state’s economy as well as promote EVs to the people of Illinois. With more EV charging infrastructure being created across the U.S., the demand for EVs will also increase for the public, making this a win-win scenario for all. Click here to view the full list of award winners.

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