In celebration of National Drive Electric Week, running nationwide from September 27 to October 6, 2024, the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation (IACT) is hosting two exciting electric vehicle events for the public a week early in Decatur and Chicago on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Decatur’s event will be held from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Progress City, 4111 E. 2nd Progress Street, Decatur, IL (adjacent to Richland Community College) and Chicago’s will be held from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at POP Overton, 4927 S Indiana, Chicago, IL. The events will provide attendees with a hands-on opportunity to see and ask questions about a wide variety of the latest EVs and learn how to take advantage of financial incentives to purchase them.
Whether you’re an EV enthusiast or just curious about test-driving, these events offer a fun time for all. Decatur’s is also a ride-and-drive event, and leading Central Illinois dealers will be on hand with multiple types of EVs. These include Miles Chevrolet, displaying both an all-electric Chevrolet Silverado and an Equinox, Bob Brady, and Tesla, who will bring some of their most popular models for attendees to test drive. Serra Champaign will join the festivities and showcase its electric Hummer, demonstrating there are EVs for just about everyone. In Chicago, the event is co-hosted by Bronzeville Community Development Partnership and is a part of the Community Days at Overton.
“Electric vehicles are transforming transportation with longer driving ranges and faster charging times than ever before,” says Samantha Bingham, Director of IACT. “On behalf of IACT, we are pleased to work with local stakeholders to offer this event as part of our recent statewide expansion efforts. With more than 90 electric vehicle models available for sale right now, several offering more than 300 miles of range, educational events like this one help daily commuters and longer-distance travelers alike make informed decisions about shifting to EVs.” EVs are fun to drive and provide many other benefits – they have instant torque, creating lightning-quick acceleration, and provide a quiet and smooth driving experience. Fuel costs can save a driver of an all-electric vehicle up to $0.27 per mile as well as reduced annual maintenance costs.
Charging stations are being planned around Macon County with traditional gasoline and diesel retailers adding fast chargers at their locations. There are many charging stations already in the Chicago area with expansion happening all of the time. Incentives are available to install your own home chargers, which can completely recharge your EV overnight.
Illinois is one of the best and most popular states to own an EV. The State has the sixth-highest electric vehicle registration in the country at 99,573 (last updated September 2024), and is rapidly becoming a hub for EV innovation, thanks to initiatives such as Governor Pritzker’s Reimagining Electric Vehicles (REV) Illinois Act and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). These programs are helping attract companies and create jobs in the EV and renewable energy sectors. Other recent investments include the Manufacturing Training Academies and an EV Innovation Center in Decatur, ensuring that Illinois is at the forefront of the clean transportation revolution.
Join the movement towards cleaner transportation at a National Drive Electric Week event! Register today or sign up to volunteer.
About the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation (IACT)
IACT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting cleaner transportation options and healthier air in Illinois. As a U.S. Department of Energy-designated coalition in the Clean Cities and Communities partnership, IACT is committed to advancing cleaner, healthier air for all Illinois residents.
PR Contact
Whitney Wright
Digital Marketing Consultant
Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation
whitney@il-act.org