Springfield officials and project partners on Monday unveiled a network of electric vehicle charging outlets intended to expand EV access in the city’s core and support local businesses by encouraging drivers to linger while they charge.
New chargers placed at nine spots downtown and near campus
City Water, Light and Power said the rollout includes 40 charging outlets spread across nine locations in Springfield, with a state grant of $629,000 helping underwrite the work. The city said drivers will be charged 26 cents per kilowatt-hour at the stations.
Officials framed the project as both an environmental and economic step. At the ribbon-cutting, project partner Matt Heyen of Hanson Professional Services told attendees,
“Electrification is coming.”
Mayor Misty Buscher said she expects the chargers to bring foot traffic to downtown merchants while EV owners charge. In her remarks, she said someone who stops to recharge will likely eat, shop or visit an attraction in downtown Springfield.
Where the chargers are located
City Water, Light and Power provided the following list of locations where the outlets were installed. Several are clustered downtown or near public attractions:
- University of Illinois Springfield — Lot I
- Parkway Pointe, 3400 block of Freedom Drive
- W. Wabash Avenue and Drawbridge Road
- W. Wabash Avenue and S. Park Avenue (Wabash Trail parking)
- Municipal Center West — Monroe Street
- Bos Center — Washington Street
- Lincoln Home National Historic Site — 7th & Edwards Streets
- Y block — 4th & 5th Streets
- Old State Capitol — 5th & Washington Streets
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of outlets | 40 |
| Number of locations | 9 |
| Price per kWh | $0.26 |
| State grant | $629,000 |
Local context and implications
Springfield’s expansion comes as more Illinois communities add public chargers to meet growing EV ownership. City officials highlighted the potential economic benefit for downtown businesses: drivers who stop to charge have time to patronize restaurants, shops and cultural sites. That rationale is part of a broader national push to place chargers where people congregate, rather than exclusively at highway rest stops.
The city’s stated charging price, 26 cents per kilowatt-hour, translates to varying out-of-pocket costs depending on vehicle efficiency and battery size. City officials offered an illustrative estimate: a full charge that would provide 300 to 400 miles could cost about $26 at that rate. Actual costs will differ by vehicle make, model and driving conditions.
Funding for the installations came in part from state resources. The $629,000 grant subsidized equipment and installation costs, lowering the municipal expense for expanding the network. City managers have said such grants are a crucial lever for building out public charging without large upfront local spending.
Officials did not provide a timetable for future expansions or details on whether the new stations will be AC level 2 or DC fast chargers. The mix of charger speeds will affect how long drivers need to stay and how much business they might bring to nearby establishments.
As Springfield markets itself to residents and visitors, this buildout places public charging at civic, cultural and commercial nodes — from the University of Illinois Springfield lot to the Old State Capitol area and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. For EV drivers, that means an expanded set of options for charging while engaging with downtown Springfield amenities.
City Water, Light and Power provided the location list and project details at the ribbon-cutting. Officials and partners said they would continue evaluating future needs as EV adoption grows locally.
— State correspondent reporting for WE NEWS.
