Drive Electric Chicago

Welcome to the City of Chicago’s one stop shop for information on plug-in electric vehicles!

What are plug-in electric vehicles?
Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are motor vehicles that are powered either entirely or partially by rechargeable batteries. These batteries are recharged when connected to the electric grid, meaning you can charge your car from the comfort of your own home! Depending on the charging station, a full charge can take anywhere from 18 hours to only 30 minutes. When fully charged, a PEV is more than capable of making the average Chicagoan’s 22 mile daily commute.

How to install EV charging stations at home:

For single family homes (installations under 400 amps), a licensed electrician can file for the permit online through the Department of Buildings Easy Permit Process and get approved in just one day.

Installations at multi-unit dwellings may have additional considerations. For multi-unit building owners, managers, or tenants, the City has developed an easy-to-understand guide.

Click on the image to download

The City also has 2 page quick reference guides specifically for building managers and residents. Click the links below:

Your property (building manager)
Your apartment or condo (tenant)

How to prepare for charging electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles:

The number of electric truck models available and announced by truck manufacturers is rapidly growing. As the total cost of ownership and business case for electric trucks moves in a positive direction, applications with predictable routes such as local and regional distribution are a perfect fit for electric trucks. To support this expected growth the City has prepared the Chicago Commercial Electric Vehicle Readiness Guidelines outlining how developers and fleet operators will need to adapt and plan for the build out of charging infrastructure needed for electric trucks.