Reply from Electrify America

[MachEUser]

This is the reply I received from EA when I proposed a fast charger on I-88 by my daughter's house. It seems they are listening to consumers who want more charging stations added. I hope one comes soon.

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your submission regarding Electrify America’s Cycle 3 ZEV Investment Plan. Electrify America appreciates your suggestion to build a charging station in Dekalb, Illinois. As the Chicago metro area is one of 29 metropolitan areas in which Electrify America is currently developing ultra-fast charging stations, we have shared your suggestion with our real estate team for evaluation.

As we plan our third cycle of investment, which begins in 2022, Electrify America is using a customer-centric, data-driven process to identify locations where ultra-fast EV charging stations are most needed. The company greatly benefits from stakeholder feedback as we plan. Please know that we have documented your suggestion and Electrify America will consider it while developing plans for future investment.

In 2019, Electrify America emerged as the nation’s largest open network of DC fast chargers. By the end of 2021, the company expects to have 800 ultrafast charging stations installed or in development, with over 3,500 individual chargers. During this period, Electrify America will expand to serve 29 metro areas and operate in 45 states, with two cross-country routes.

In addition to Electrify America’s infrastructure efforts, the company is spending $42 million to educate consumers, including sponsoring the brand-neutral “Normal Now” campaign, which seeks to demystify zero-emission vehicles for those Americans – still the overwhelming majority – who have never considered switching to a zero-emission vehicle.
Electrify America has received a huge response to our open call for suggestions. Our team is learning a great deal from more than 800 submissions, and we will use them to inform our data-driven investments.

Thank you again for your submission.

Sincerely,

The National Outreach Team
Electrify America

I also received this email. I thought it was nice that they at least seem to be listening to suggestions. They can choose to ignore them later but it was a nice gesture.

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[Illinibird]

I also received this email. I thought it was nice that they at least seem to be listening to suggestions. They can choose to ignore them later but it was a nice gesture.

Then you made a suggestion to them too?

 

[Illinibird]

I have to say you’re probably right about that with the junction of I-88 and I-39. Just was hoping for DeKalb as it has the Oasis, Northern Illinois University is there, big box stores are there (Walmart, Target & Meijer) and the exit is very busy. It is also for selfish reasons too if I’m being honest. The Level 2 chargers that are there could be used but the charging time would be unrealistic if it was very much. Since Aurora does have 4 EA chargers, I could charge there but it might require two stops; one going up and one coming back. I’ll have to drive it to be sure. I know we’ll be going 70 mph and using A/C in summer and the heat in winter so that will definitely affect whether we’d need to make two stops or one.

 

[SolarAB]

Yup, but I can dream that they really WILL look at the area I proposed. There are no fast chargers in that area of the state and I-88 is busy east and westbound. There is a large DeKalb Oasis that both directions of traffic can utilize as it's in the center of the tollway. Right now there is a gasoline station, clean and available rest rooms and a food court. It's open 24/7. If you look at today's news it says Biden is going to make a big push for the nation to go electric with cars and that means building a lot of charging stations.

With new government incentives coming to build more charging stations, I think they will be looking at areas of need and getting your area on the priority list is a good move.

 

[MachEUser]

Then you made a suggestion to them too?

I did. I recommended Atlantic City given that it is a regional tourist destination and could be one of those day/road trip destinations. I also recently recommended some along with the NJ shore given the focus seems to be more on the Philly to NY corridor. NJ has a very high density and if the EV incentives continue, more EVs will be purchased. The fast-charging infrastructure will need to keep up.

 

[Illinibird]

I added those stores because in Aurora EA has their DC chargers in the Meijer parking lot which is about 2.6 miles off I-88. I figured they may have an agreement with them but I really don’t know. In addition to the EA chargers there was a bank of about 10 Tesla chargers right next to the EA setup. In my town (Frankfort IL) there is several Level 2 chargers and one DC fast charger. It is located in the parking lot of a Harley-Davidson dealer.

 

[Illinibird]

OK, the old memory ain't what it used to be! It was a Meijer's parking lot and the address is: 808 North Route 59, Aurora, IL 60504. The station has 3 CCS and 1 CHAdemMO DC chargers. It says 2.6 miles off I-88 but it seemed further to me. You turn off of Route 59 right at Liberty St then left into parking lot just by the Bank of America and the chargers are right behind that. Like I said, there's a big bank of Tesla chargers right next to EA chargers.

 

[jparduhn70]

Ea really needs to put a station in Louisville ky. If you are one of the very few that have to depend on fast charging to charge your bev your screwed. the closest is right across the bridge in Indiana and each time across and back it's 4 dollars.
So 8 dollars plus the charge rate to dc fast charge your bev. that sucks.

I agree with you. I routinely make this drive between that Clarksville, IN station and the one in Georgetown just north of Lexington, and I can see how having to cross the bridge into Indiana at $2.15 each way could be really frustrating. Even if it were on the east end just off I-265, that would be great. I'd prefer to charge there before making the leg to Lexington, or better yet, down to Willamsburg to avoid going north on I-75 to Georgetown so I could charge to a reasonable level to reach Knoxville.

 

[jparduhn70]

OK, the old memory ain't what it used to be! It was a Meijer's parking lot and the address is: 808 North Route 59, Aurora, IL 60504. The station has 3 CCS and 1 CHAdemMO DC chargers. It says 2.6 miles off I-88 but it seemed further to me. You turn off of Route 59 right at Liberty St then left into parking lot just by the Bank of America and the chargers are right behind that. Like I said, there's a big bank of Tesla chargers right next to EA chargers.

That distance is correct, literally two miles northeast from my house, but that drive on Rte. 59 seems a lot longer given the amount of traffic between the EA station and I-88.

 

[Illinibird]

That distance is correct, literally two miles northeast from my house, but that drive on Rte. 59 seems a lot longer given the amount of traffic between the EA station and I-88.

Part of it seeming longer is we didn't know where we were and were looking for the Meijer and yes, a lot of traffic. Have you tried these chargers? Do they work for plug and charge (or whatever it's called)? This is where I plan to charge going up there and/or going back home until there is a DC charger up near DeKalb.

 

[jparduhn70]

Part of it seeming longer is we didn't know where we were and were looking for the Meijer and yes, a lot of traffic. Have you tried these chargers? Do they work for plug and charge (or whatever it's called)? This is where I plan to charge going up there and/or going back home until there is a DC charger up near DeKalb.

I've used them and they work very well, and the only ones I've gotten P&C to work on. They're relatively new, installed some time back in October or November last fall.

 

[SuzzyQ]

Yup, but I can dream that they really WILL look at the area I proposed. There are no fast chargers in that area of the state and I-88 is busy east and westbound. There is a large DeKalb Oasis that both directions of traffic can utilize as it's in the center of the tollway. Right now there is a gasoline station, clean and available rest rooms and a food court. It's open 24/7. If you look at today's news it says Biden is going to make a big push for the nation to go electric with cars and that means building a lot of charging stations.

I agree. Rest areas need them instead of driving off the beaten path to a charger. Why aren’t they set up in these areas?

 

[jparduhn70]

I agree. Rest areas need them instead of driving off the beaten path to a charger. Why aren’t they set up in these areas?

It would be so much easier, but it's probably something to do with states granting them access.

Given my last trip, I'm starting to think that Walmart somehow got EA to put them on their properties with a really good deal. Literally one at every stop. I don't know if I've walked into their stores three or four times in a day anytime in my life like I did during that trip. ?

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