The Illinois Department of Transportation recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony in Casey to celebrate the state’s first charging station built through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.
The department had awarded Phillips 66, in collaboration with Meyer Oil and Electrify America, a $854,641 NEVI grant to build four DC fast chargers at the Mach 1 station on Illinois 49 near Interstate 70. The chargers were electrified the week of July 13.
Stations in other locations will come online later this summer.
“These new chargers are an important step forward in making the governor’s EV goals a reality, while creating economic opportunity by connecting Illinois communities to a national network of stations,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said. “Some of the strongest interest we’re seeing for electric vehicle charging is coming from rural areas that see the benefit of having travelers stop in their towns to charge up and spend their dollars at local stores and businesses. We look forward to adding many more throughout the state in the weeks and months ahead.”
The department recently awarded $23.5 million to 29 projects during the third round of NEVI funding. The grants will facilitate the construction of 140 charging ports.