Chicago Pushes for EV Charging Spaces for Renters
Many major cities in the U.S. are starting to require that apartment and condo buildings incorporate electric vehicle-friendly accommodations for EV owners. Chicago has jumped on board this initiative.
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Legislation
Per Green Car Reports, Chicago passed a new ordinance in October. The legislation mandates that new residential developments, with 24 or more units, provide renters with at least two charging-ready parking spaces for EVs.
The ordinance is laxer than the original proposal, which specified that 20-percent of developments’ parking spaces be reserved for EV use. And it’s also less stringent than cities in other states. California, for instance, has set a goal that EVs comprise one-fourth of the state’s autos by 2030. It will also install 250,000 more charging stations by 2025, to help achieve this milestone.
One downside to the new legislation is that it doesn’t apply to existing residential developments. Instead, it focuses on equipping new apartment and condo complexes with the equipment needed for EV-friendly parking spaces. Nonetheless, it’s a small step in the right direction as more Chicago residents are opting for EV vehicles. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Illinois EV sales grew 89 percent from just 2017 to 2018.
Photo: geralt
The big picture
Chicago’s new ordinance will also help bring the state’s charging infrastructure up to par with those in coastal U.S. cities. Requiring new developments to add more EV-friendly spaces will encourage more people to live in the city since public charging stations are still so scarce in the Midwest.
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