Electric Charging Stations Coming To Tollway Oases

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- Gov. Pat Quinn and officials at the Illinois Toll Highway Authority have announced plans to install electric car charging stations across the system.

As WBBM Newsradio's David Roe reports, Quinn and Tollway officials say four fast-charging machines have already been put into place at four Tollway Oasis stations, and three others are on the way, the Chicago Tribune reported.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's David Roe reports

The charging machines will allow drivers to charge the batteries in an electric car in under half an hour. They are part of a program that will eventually see 280 charging stations across Chicago and the suburbs, the newspaper reported.

Drivers who want to use the chargers must first purchase payment cards that cost $21 for three 15-minute charging sessions.

A bank of electric car charging stations also opened last week on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus at 32nd and State streets. Stations are also planned for several other city sites, including the parking lot of the Kimball Avenue Brown Line terminal in Albany Park.

The I-Go car sharing service is also planning for several solar canopy charging stations across the city, which will be accessible to the public.

In:
• Pat Quinn
• David Roe
• Illinois Toll Highway Authority