Are Electric Cars Coming to Kane County?

Electric vehicles, or EVs, are coming to Kane County. It is not a matter of if or even when, but how many and what will be needed to support them.  Such was the tenor of discussion at the Kane County Energy Committee meeting this week when members contemplated a proposed Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or EVI, ordinance.

According Karen Kosky, Kane County Manager of Conservation Resource Programs, the United States Department of Energy has tallied automobile manufactures' production numbers, including those from Ford, GM, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, BMW and others, which total 1.2 million EVs planned to be on the road by 2015. What's more, demand for these cars has exceeded manufacturers' expectations, so these production numbers are likely to rise. But just how many of these cars will land in Kane County?

Committee members discussed several factors that support predictions for rapid EV growth including rising gasoline prices, improved EV technology, and more stylish, albeit expensive, models of cars.

But some members feel that Kane County is a prime location for "early adopters" of EVs due to its geographic relationship within the Chicago metropolitan region and its socioeconomic characteristics, which includes a highly educated and relatively affluent population.

Northeastern Illinois ranks fifth in the United States for hybrid vehicle market share and industry experts see the same potential for EVs in the foreseeable future.

The proposed ordinance would classify car charging stations as "Level 1," a home charging station supplied by a typical 110-volt outlet; "Level 2," a 240-volt station installed in households or other areas; or "Level 3," a 480-volt quick-charging station for use in commercial and public spaces. Charging times range from 10 to 15 hours at a Level 1 station to 10 to 15 minutes at a Level 3 station.

The ordinance would also establish the number, size, location, signage and lighting requirements for car charging stations in on-street and off-street parking areas and within parking garages. Regulatory provisions regarding the use of charging stalls for EV's only and parking time limits would likely be included. 

The benefits of the proposed ordinance would include the establishment of clear and consistent standards for electric vehicle infrastructure providers, it would remove unintended legal barriers that may currently exist in local ordinances, and it would send a message to the electric vehicle industry that Kane County is EV friendly, which could attract new business and investment in the county.

Perhaps more importantly the ordinance would serve as a model for municipalities in Kane County and throughout the Chicagoland area.

If Kane County adopts an EVI ordinance the hope would be that municipalities would follow Kane's lead and adopt similar ordinances to promote standardization throughout the region and attract more EV users to the area.