ComEd announced it has made $100 million in rebates available to help more customers take steps toward electric vehicles (EVs) this year. To reduce the upfront cost barriers to EVs, these rebates cover three distinct programs: residential EV charger and installation costs, all-electric fleet vehicles, and business and public sector ready-to-charge infrastructure.
ComEd EV investments are available for residential, business, and public sector customers. They are designed to equitably provide community funding to promote the widespread adoption of EVs in Illinois.
Through its investments this year, ComEd is making $53 million in rebates available for business and public sector EV fleet purchases, such as small businesses pursuing as few as one electric vehicle for commercial use, regardless of small-, medium- or heavy-duty weight class size; and nearly $38 million in rebates available to support infrastructure make ready upgrades needed for the installation of public and private Level 2 (L2) and Level 3 (DCFC) charging stations for non-residential customers.
Residential customers will have access to nearly $9 million in funding to reduce the upfront costs of purchase and installation of adding at-home L2 charging—with rebates of up to $3,750 per charger.
This funding announcement follows last year’s first-of-its-kind announcement to fund EV projects, with ComEd launching nearly $90 million for customers last year. Both 2024 and 2025 programs are made available as part of a state-mandated program to help more customers take steps toward EVs, a result of the passage of Illinois’ landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which calls for having 1 million EVs on the roads by 2030.
All ComEd EV rebate programs put these equity front and center, reserving more than half of the total funds for low-income customers and equity-eligible communities and offering higher rebates exclusively for low-income customers and for those located in or primarily serving low-income and equity-eligible communities.
Even though EVs provide a wide range of benefits—from reducing emissions to generating fuel cost savings to spurring economic development—their positive impacts on air quality benefit all communities, especially those most historically impacted by pollution.
Since launching the first-ever EV rebates last year, ComEd has seen a significant increase in customer EV projects. To date, ComEd has funded EV expansion projects in more than 300 ZIP codes, helping to propel nearly 3,500 residential and commercial charging L2 and DCFC ports, public and private, and the addition of over 200 new and pre-owned EV fleet vehicles for municipal, business customers, and school districts. Over half of the funds have been directed to low-income customers and to propel projects in equity-eligible communities.
ComEd’s EV investments coincided with an increase in the rate of EV adoption in Illinois. Today, more than 126,000 EVs are on state roads, and the vast majority, over 112,000, drive in northern Illinois. Along with funding programs, ComEd facilitates several initiatives to support customers in moving toward EVs and help communities achieve their local and regional transportation net-zero emissions goals.
ComEd teamed up with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus in developing a first-of-its-kind training for municipalities and local governments called the EV Readiness program, helping them to create local ordinances, safety, and infrastructure plans designed to accommodate the growing demand for EVs in their communities. Since then, the program has reached over 41 local governments in northern Illinois, receiving assistance with creating local policies to ensure safe and effective regional transportation electrification.
To ease the customer experience, ComEd provides Fleet Electrification Assessments, along with a make-ready rebate reservation program, giving charging project developers certainty on available funding awaiting when they complete their projects, created a fleet EV Point of Sale program in partnership with more than 70 area auto dealers and manufacturers to qualify for fleet rebates for new and pre-owned vehicles at the time of purchase and established an EV Service Provider Network, comprised of over 84 local businesses certified to install EV charging infrastructure, providing customers a go-to list of contractors to call when they are planning to add charging infrastructure.
KEY QUOTES:
“ComEd is focused on ensuring that not only is the grid is equipped for increased electrification, but that our customers and communities have the support needed to navigate the transition to EVs and the benefits they provide for customers as well as the environment. Building on the success of last year’s rebate programs, ComEd is pleased to launch another $100M that will help customers take steps toward adding at-home L2 charging, fleet EV projects for fleets of any size, and to catalyze more investment in building a network of regional public and private charging to accommodate the growing demand for EVs in northern Illinois.”
– Melissa Washington, SVP of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd
“The ComEd rebates that support EV adoption and accelerate the expansion of charging infrastructure are pivotal in driving a sustainable future. These initiatives will empower consumers to make cleaner choices and support the transition to zero emission transportation.”
– Megha Lakhchaura, State EV Officer of Illinois
“ComEd’s CEJA-enabled programs to get more zero-emission vehicles moving are critical for cutting health-damaging air pollution, particularly in vulnerable communities that face a higher burden from lung disease. We encourage all eligible applicants to take advantage of this great economic opportunity that will benefit both them and their neighbors.”
– Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health Programs at Respiratory Health Association
“We are pleased to see that ComEd’s rebate offers for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including electric school buses, are underway and picking up steam. Getting kids out of dirty diesel buses and communities having fewer diesel trucks and buses passing through them every day will help kids and adult residents’ lungs and health. With the new federal administration’s threats to numerous air quality programs, ComEd’s program is especially critical, giving school districts the opportunity to provide kids a clean ride to school and others a lifeline to modernize and clean up their vehicle fleets.”
– Susan Mudd, Senior Policy Advocate at Environmental Law & Policy Center
“On behalf of the Chicagoland new-car dealers, we applaud ComEd for propelling the widespread adoption of electrified vehicles in Illinois. As EV adoption continues to grow in Illinois, local new-car dealers are committed to supporting the revolution by offering a variety of all-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to consumers as well as provide much needed education.”
– Chicago Automobile Trade Association President Jennifer Morand
“ComEd’s support of our EV Readiness Program and commitment to expanding EV adoption and infrastructure has been a game-changes for the communities we serve. By supporting our local initiatives to advance policies and build infrastructure for a sustainable future, ComEd’s investments will play a key role in reducing emissions, improving air quality and ensuring an equitable transition to clean transportation across northern Illinois.”
– Kevin Burns, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Chairman of the Environment and Energy Committee and Immediate Past Executive Board Chairman
“Being a part of the ComEd Energy Efficiency program and the Electric Vehicle Service Providers network has been a blessing and life changing experience both personally and professionally. This partnership has been critical to the growth of my business, and I look forward to the Veterans Energy team helping more EV-interested customers in northern Illinois qualify for expanded ComEd EV rebates that will help build their projects and go green in the coming year.”
– Ed West, president and owner of Veterans Energy
