Chicago EV ambassadors may assist in converting city drivers to electric vehicles.
In a bid to accelerate the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles (EVs), ComEd, Illinois' largest utility, has recently approved a Beneficial Electrification plan for the years 2026 through 2028. The total spending on this program by ComEd between 2023 and 2028 will be $400 million.
At the forefront of this initiative is William Davis, the executive director of the Bronzeville Community Development Partnership. Davis is one of the ambassadors for the program, tasked with connecting people with incentives to electrify and deepening the plan's benefits to historically marginalized communities.
Davis, who recently purchased an electric van through a city climate grant, believes that people don't fully understand how EVs work, how they can improve their lives, and the urgency of the transition from a socioeconomic standpoint. He imagines the electric van serving as a modern jitney, referencing the informal cabs that once plied the streets of Bronzeville and other segregated neighborhoods.
Most of the funding from the Beneficial Electrification plan will go toward rebates for EVs and chargers for residents, businesses, and public use. ComEd has offered rebates for over 1,500 electric vehicles and about 5,800 charging ports. More than 1,400 of the electric vehicles and almost half of the charging ports are in areas that qualify for social-equity incentives under state law.
In fact, 80% of Beneficial Electrification EV incentives have gone to places designated as "equity investment eligible communities" by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Davis' organization is in the process of installing two EV chargers thanks to ComEd incentives.
The initiative is rolling out first in historically marginalized South Side neighborhoods like Bronzeville. Davis is one of a handful of community leaders working with ComEd under this new program to convince skeptical individuals and businesses to electrify.
Illinois has a goal of having 1 million electric vehicles by 2030, as mandated by the state's 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. With the Beneficial Electrification plan, ComEd is making significant strides towards achieving this ambitious goal.
As the EV Ambassador for the program, Davis is playing a crucial role in raising awareness and providing incentives for the transition to electric vehicles. His work is not only helping to reduce carbon emissions but also fostering economic development in underserved communities.
