Elizabeth
Kocs from UIC Energy Initiative moderated the panel
and it included the following panelists:
· Samantha Bingham, City
of Chicago
· Jim Thomas, RIVIAN
· Ann Schlenker,
Argonne National Lab
· Caroline Quazzon,
EZ-EV
· Laura Pritchard, UIC
Alumna
The
panel addressed some of the specific points on transportation electrification
from the report by the Mayor’s Task Force on Mobility. For example, electric
vehicle adoption is needed to improve air quality in large cities like Chicago.
However, one of the largest issues that EV adoption faces is the transmission,
distribution and availability of power for the EV charging infrastructure.
The
panel also discussed how infrastructure for EV charging is the key barrier
faced for increased EV adoption. New policies and incentives for consumers are
great, however, they won’t solve the majority of infrastructure needs.
Nowadays, buildings need to be EV ready from the beginning. It’s critical that
new construction developments take EV infrastructure into consideration for
both commercial and retail vehicles from the beginning of the projects.
Panelists
continued to discuss another infrastructure that hinders EV adoption –
visibility. Currently, a large amount of EV charging and infrastructure is not
visible to that majority of the population. They are often hidden in parking
garages or other establishments. This makes it hard for non-EV owners to
imagine making that leap to electric since they are unable to see charging
places and the potential everywhere. Without seeing it, it’s hard to imagine
ownership.
Additionally,
they talked about the disconnect in terms of what electric vehicle charging
looks like compared to today’s current gas station model. EV charging
infrastructure must be placed in locations where consumers will be spending
more time due to the longer charging period. The current model of a quick gas
fill-up at a gas station doesn’t apply here.
Aside
from simply consumer vehicles, the panelists discussed the need for the
commercial vehicle industry to go electric. Today, commercial vehicles are one
of the largest pollution causes in the world. When asked what the best approach
for Illinois to achieve funds for EV infrastructure, the panelists agreed that,
aside from involved electric utility companies, the state should put emphasis
on the commercial vehicle space. Chicago is a hub of transportation, especially
train and trucking. It’s a great opportunity to move toward electric in that
field and start reducing pollution in the city.
Thank
you to the wonderful panelists and moderators, as well as, ILAVA for hosting
another great mobility event.