SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Sara Feigenholtz’s legislation creating a blueprint for Illinois to make EV charging available at residential buildings was signed into law Friday.
“Renters and condo owners are looking to the state for guidance surrounding their ability to charge their electric vehicles at home,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “This law provides that blueprint so we can begin incorporating EV charging infrastructure at residential buildings across the state.”
The legislation requires new construction of single-family homes and multi-unit residential buildings to include basic infrastructure for electric vehicle charging in a certain number of parking spaces. It also lays out rights and obligations to allow flexibility for tenants and condominium unit owners seeking to install an EV charger on their own, while granting property owners the ability to recoup costs when an EV charging system is installed or removed at the request of a tenant or unit owner.
With the emergence of General Motors and other major auto manufacturing companies moving to all-electric vehicle production in the next 15 years, the Electric Vehicle Charging Act aims to get ahead of that curve to greatly reduce the cost of installing charging equipment down the line. If built at the time of construction, EV-capable infrastructure makes up just 0.1-0.2% of total building cost.
“This law will carve out a path for reliable, convenient electric vehicle charging at home, so people can more easily make the transition to an electric vehicle while helping Illinois meet our ambitious climate and clean energy goals,” Feigenholtz added.
The law, originally Senate Bill 40, was signed by the governor on Friday.
