First set of Illinois-funded EV fast chargers installed in South Beloit

SOUTH BELOIT, Ill. (WTVO) — On Thursday, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced the first set of 2,600 upcoming state-funded electric vehicle fast chargers have been installed, including four in South Beloit.

In total, the IEPA said 16 Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) had been installed in Beach Park, Le Roy, Troy, and South Beloit.

Four Chargepoint-branded DCFC units are now open at Fas Fuel, at 15766 Manchester Road, near the Interstate 90 ramp.

“Here in Illinois, we are excited to continue the build-out of our electric vehicle charging network to support the transition to zero-emission vehicles,” said Interim Director Jennings. “The Driving a Cleaner Illinois program addresses gaps in the current EV charging network to assure that electric vehicles remain a choice for motorists across Illinois.”

Depending on the model, fast charging stations can output up to 350 kW and recharge a car’s battery in less than 30 minutes.

By contrast, the more readily available Level 2 chargers, often found in business parking lots and residential garages, output up to only 19 kW and are typically used for overnight or long-term charging.

DCFC units often have one or more Combined Charging System (CCS) standard plugs, with the possibility of another plug supporting the aging CHAdeMO protocol, reserved for drivers of the Nissan LEAF.

The Illinois EPA has already awarded or is in the process of awarding a total of $82.6 million in grants to build DCFCs and Level 2 chargers at public locations, including hotels, shopping centers, and gas stations. Of these public charging ports, approximately 2,000 will be DC fast charge and 600 will be Level 2.

Previously, the state announced funding was in place for additional charging stations at the following locations:

• Pilot Flying J Travel Center in Rochelle
• An unnamed gas station in Loves Park
• Road Ranger gas stations in Dixon and Rochelle
• Road Ranger in South Beloit
• Pilot Flying J Travel Center in South Beloit
• BP gas station in Roscoe

The auto industry has committed to adopting Tesla’s proprietary DCFC connector, known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS), starting with 2025 models.

Tesla’s Supercharger Network is in the process of becoming available to users of non-Tesla EVs. That rollout has been slow, with compatibility currently limited to EVs manufactured by Ford.

According to Tesla’s website , the automaker intends to install a third Rockford Supercharger sometime in 2024, possibly near downtown.

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