ComEd Joins Bronzeville Community to Unveil New Public EV Chargers

In line with its mission to advance the equitable adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) throughout northern Illinois, ComEd today joined the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) and members of the Bronzeville community to commission the latest EV charging station as part of a first of its kind U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) pilot launched on the city’s South Side to boost EV charging access for communities with limited access.

The pilot brings five new EV charging stations to Bronzeville, including the first ever curbside charging station located anywhere in the state of Illinois, and marks a key milestone in advancing efforts to boost EV charging access that will be required for supporting an equitable transition to EVs in Illinois. Because densely populated areas have limited access to EV charging, and fewer parking lots to accommodate public charging infrastructure, curbside charging will be critical for EV adoption in these areas.

“ComEd is committed to supporting a clean energy future in northern Illinois, and increasing charging access for our customers is a key component to greater EV adoption,” said Melissa Washington SVP of Customer Operations and Strategy at ComEd. “The air quality and sustainability benefits of EVs are vast, but we know that financial barriers and access to charging can be challenging. That is why programs like this charging pilot are so impactful in not only supporting air quality, but ensuring equitable access to this critical technology.”

The $3 million project, including DOE grant funding and ComEd matching funds, is part of a larger study being conducted by national partners, including the Center for Sustainable Energy, to understand how to bring charging to more low-income communities, where there is a higher concentration of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Since the start of this pilot in 2022, the five Bronzeville chargers installed throughout the community have served nearly 300 unique drivers, and more than 2,800 charging sessions.

“Pilot projects like this show how we can make EV ownership accessible to more people by expanding crucial access to EV charging, especially for people living in multifamily housing in communities harmed by tailpipe emissions. We look forward to collaborating with ComEd on new efforts to electrify commercial fleets, trucks and buses, which often disproportionately impact these same communities,” said John Gartner, senior director of transportation programs at the nonprofit Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE).