Advanced Energy United applauds the legislation that now heads to Gov. Pritzker’s desk 

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Legislature this week voted to create a new incentive program for electric fleet vehicles, such as delivery trucks and school buses. House Bill 4196, sponsored by Representative Martin J. Moylan and Senator Ram Villivalam, establishes the first-in-the-Midwest program to help small businesses, school districts and public fleet owners overcome economic barriers to purchase electric vehicles, which can have higher upfront costs but significantly lower lifetime costs to own and operate.

The bill will allow the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to begin standing up the program, with decisions about how to fund it to come later. The legislation was amended to a state budget package in recent days before passing both chambers of the Illinois legislature in the early morning hours Wednesday, May 29. The package now goes to Governor Pritzker for his signature.  

“This program is a smart investment in Illinois’ future,” said Samarth Medakkar, Illinois State Lead at national business association Advanced Energy United. “Investing in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles results in cleaner air, bolsters our state’s growing EV manufacturing sector, and saves small businesses and school districts money.”  

The bill contains an increased incentive for vehicles that operate in areas of heavy pollution to improve air quality in neighborhoods heavily burdened with traffic emissions. While medium- and heavy-duty vehicles account for just 4% of vehicles on the road, they are responsible for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. A recent study from Northwestern University estimated that electrifying just 30% of the heavy-duty vehicles operating in the Chicago area could result in $5.7 billion of avoided health impacts every year, including preventing 600 premature deaths from vehicle emissions.  

“We are grateful for the leadership of Senate President Harmon, Representative Moylan and Senator Villivalam for shepherding this important program through the committee and amendment process,” said Medakkar. “We are eager to continue working with these leaders to secure meaningful funding for this important program, including by directing existing federal funding sources and by allocating state funding.”