The availability of what is becoming the nation’s largest network of fast-charging electric vehicle (EV) stations was announced yesterday by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and representatives from the Illinois Tollway, 350Green LLC, and 7-Eleven, Inc.

As part of Gov. Quinn’s commitment to increasing sustainability across Illinois, the initiative will support the use of electric vehicles. Motorists can charge an electric vehicle in under 30 minutes using the current fast-chargers at 7-Eleven sites at four Tollway Oasis locations. This service will soon be available at all seven Tollway Oases.

Through the Chicago-Area EV Infrastructure Project, 26 fast-chargers have been installed, with 73 total fast-chargers planned. Eight of these are currently in place at Tollway Oases along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) at the Des Plaines Oasis and on the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) at the Lake Forest Oasis, O’Hare Oasis and Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis. The installations, managed by 350Green, were performed by Chicago-based JNS Power & Control Systems.

The City of Chicago is overseeing the project’s installation of 280 charging stations overall to increase accessibility to EV charging. With a budget of $8.8 million, including $1.9 million in public funding and $6.9 million in private investment, EV stations are being installed mostly in areas with dense residential and worker populations and in high-traffic areas.

Before plugging in to one of the Tollway’s fast-chargers, drivers must purchase a payment card from 350Green. The $21 card includes three 15-minute sessions at fast-charging stations.