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TCCI in Decatur is using funds from the Reimagining Energy and
Vehicles, or REV, Act to build the facilities, getting just over
$21 million in grants.
The project will include a Climatic Center for Innovation &
Research facility, which will include a DC fast charger for
electric vehicles for testing capability under both extreme cold
and hot conditions.
Richard Demirjian, president of TCCI, which manufactures
compressors for EVs, said the training program will eventually
expand to other schools around the state.
“By the time we open in the fall of 2024, we will have expanded
our partnerships to include Illinois State University, the
University of Illinois at Springfield, Chicago State University
and Governor State University,” Demirjian said at a
groundbreaking Wednesday.
Articulation agreements have been signed between Richland
Community College and the University of Illinois Grainger
College of Engineering, University of Illinois College of ACES
and Northern Illinois University to ensure a seamless transfer
of credits for students.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has an ambitious goal of having 1 million EVs
on Illinois roads by 2030. Just over 10% of registered vehicles
in the state are electric.
One of the obstacles is cost. A new study shows that it is not
yet cheaper to charge many electric cars than it would be to
fuel their gas-powered counterparts up with gas. Anderson
Economic Group found that trucks cost about the same to fuel and
charge, while entry and mid level cars and SUVs cost more to
charge at home and in public than they do to fuel at a gas
station.
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