Contact: Noah Barnes
noah@electrification.org, (202) 461-2371
CHICAGO—Yesterday, Governor J.B. Pritzker, Illinois State Senator David Koehler, Illinois State Representative Edgar Gonzalez and others spoke at the Electrification Coalition (EC) event that convened Illinois policymakers, nonprofit organizations, and leaders from across the electric vehicle (EV) industry to advance medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electrification in Illinois, highlighting the importance of key policies to drive further manufacture and deployment of these vehicles in Illinois. Representatives from Amazon, Rivian, Lion Electric, BP Pulse, Einride, AECOM and more all provided remarks about the importance of MHD electrification.
Eight states have adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule (ACT), which requires an increasing percentage of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission trucks and buses to be sold by manufacturers starting in model year 2027. Despite legislative efforts to adopt the rule, Illinois agencies have not been required to move forward. The EPA Heavy-Duty Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule would be a federal standard, requiring a less ambitious percentage of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) than ACT, but it would establish a nationwide baseline, significantly shifting the vehicle market.
EC Senior Director of Campaigns Aaron Viles emphasized the vital role policies play in Illinois’ electrification transition, stating, “By setting a floor for allowable emissions and a timeline for ZEV deployment, EPA’s Phase 3 standards and the more ambitious ACT can provide Illinois businesses with clarity and direction. These policies would reduce dangerous air pollution, slash emissions, and strengthen the economy, creating well-paying jobs for Illinois residents.”
“We currently have over 5,000 electric vehicle delivery vehicles operating in more than 800 cities across the U.S.,” said Amazon Head of Power and Energy Solutions Adam Raphael, highlighting the scale of electric truck deployment.
Later in the day, Amazon announced that its fleet of Rivian electric delivery trucks has already surpassed 10,000 vehicles and will grow to over 100,000 vans by 2030.
“Our intent is to make sure that when you graduate, you go right into a job,” said Governor Pritzker, stressing the job opportunities created by manufacturing MHD EVs. “Leaning into electrification has allowed us to accelerate that.”
“Until we have ACT in Illinois, [MHD EV deployment] is going elsewhere,” said Rivian Public Policy Lead Maura Freeman.
“I’m here to tell you that there is demand for heavy-duty electric trucks,” said Einride VP of Government Affairs and Product Strategy Michelle Avary. “Companies are setting goals that can only be reached with digitization and electrification.”
Jose Acosta with Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) highlighted the disproportionate public health impact diesel trucks have on Chicago’s disadvantaged communities, sharing that a study conducted by the organization found between one and two diesel trucks per minute pass through Chicago’s predominantly Latinx Little Village neighborhood.
The industry leaders identified a suite of policies to facilitate further MHD deployment, building on the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, which includes significant tax credits for MHD EVs and charging infrastructuure. The day’s discussion touched on an Illinois Clean Transportation Standard, a fleet incentive bill, as well as the highlighted ACT and EPA HD Rule.
The American medium- and heavy-duty EV industry sits at an inflection point. We must capitalize on our momentum to ensure this essential industry remains at the forefront of a clean and prosperous future.
“Let’s use this timeframe to do something big and bold,” said Illinois State Senator David Koehler.
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About the Electrification Coalition: The Electrification Coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes policies and actions to facilitate the widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) on a mass scale to overcome the economic, public health and national security challenges that stem from America’s dependence on oil. electrificationcoalition.org