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Senate Bill 40 was approved earlier this year and starting Jan.
1, the law requires single-family homes and newly constructed
residential buildings with parking spaces to provide a conduit
allowing EV charging if needed. During fall veto session, the
measure was amended to require a charging station capabilities
for each available parking space.
Illinois home builder Dean Graven said changes were made to
reduce costs.
"We have to put in a conduit or a pipe from the breaker box to
one location in the garage," Graven told The Center Square. "Teslas
take 240 [volt], and other cars are 180, and if you get the
cheapest electric car, you can plug into a 110 outlet. We got
away from putting in something expensive that would cost
thousands of dollars versus just a conduit system."
Most of the debate during the legislative session centered
around the costs involved in the construction. Paul Arena with
Illinois Rental Property Owners Association, who were against
the original bill, said costs would increase but not by that
much.
"It will increase the cost of construction but not to the point
where we felt it would be a deterrent," Arena said. "Our concern
was mostly around renovation and what activities the tenants
were permitted to do."
Graven said the amendment to the law also addressed concerns he
had regarding future home prices.
"This did not affect new home construction," Graven said. "That
was our major concern when the bill came out because it was
going to drive the cost of housing even higher."
Arena said he does not anticipate a large number of stations
being built.
"We don't see there being this tremendous demand for electric
vehicles. I don't think there will be a lot of them," Arena
said. "I think what it will impact is new construction."
Graven compared the process to one wanting to build a jacuzzi.
"To me, it's like, do you want a hot tub in your bathroom,"
Graven said. "It is an addition to a house cost that the
consumer drives. They will pay for it if they need it. If they
do not, they will walk away from it."
The measure also allows landlords to charge a security deposit
to cover the costs of restoring the property to its original
condition once a tenant moves out.
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