West Cook News

The new user fee for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Oak Park will be effective from August 26. Officials indicate that the fee aims to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Village’s charging station network while also promoting a sustainable expansion of access to charging infrastructure, particularly for residents without private parking facilities.

Electric vehicle owners using the Village’s 13 publicly accessible EV charging stations are encouraged to download the ChargePoint mobile app via the App Store or Google Play. Through this app, drivers can locate available stations, monitor charging activity, and pay for their sessions using various payment methods including Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and credit or debit cards.

The fee is set at 25 cents per kilowatt hour, aligning with the amount charged by the Park District of Oak Park and adhering to industry best practices.

Increasing access to EV charging infrastructure is a key objective outlined in the Climate Ready Oak Park plan adopted in 2022. The plan identifies greenhouse gas emissions from conventional vehicles as the second largest contributor to climate change in Oak Park. It calls for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030 and aims for a net-zero or carbon-neutral community by 2050.

For more information about electric vehicles in Oak Park, visit www.oak-park.us/electric-vehicles. Questions regarding the new EV charging station user fee can be directed to parking@oak-park.us or 708.358.7275.

Oak Park is located nine miles west of downtown Chicago and offers an urban/suburban lifestyle within a multi-cultural community known for its progressive values. The Village features tree-lined streets, bustling business districts, convenient access to transit systems, high-quality public schools, and cultural attractions such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and Unity Temple, recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.