Steve Chesley, executive manager of the Quad Cities Chapter, NECA, hosted a special preview of the electric vehicle infrastructure that will be appearing soon in the area’s parking lots and residences on Friday, Feb. 18.
According to the Quad-City Times, “Nearly 30 people representing area government, electrical contractors, utilities and Lujack’s NorthPark Auto Plaza met with officials from the National Electrical Contractors Association, or NECA, to discuss the infrastructure needs that will come with the new vehicles.”
Rob Colgan, NECA executive director, market development, also attended the session to deliver the specifics about EVs coming to the Quad Cities. Colgan is NECA’s liaison for electric vehicle manufacturers and charging station suppliers and active in the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program, an alliance of industry experts.
From the article: “Colgan said that in his 40 years in the electrical business, ‘This is the most exciting event I have been involved in. It’s historic. But it’s something we don’t have the infrastructure for’.
“He applauded Chesley and Lujack’s for being proactive in addressing the area’s readiness. ‘Steve is the first person to call me from around the country,’ he said, adding that chapters on the west coast already are preparing. ‘For the Quad-Cities to be this far out ahead even before you get the vehicles here (is impressive)’.”
Impressive, indeed. The Quad-Cities Times reported a day earlier that Illinois had unveiled plans to install EV charging stations throughout Chicago. Chesley’s timing for his hands-on session for community leaders couldn’t have been better.
For more information about NECA’s involvement in the EV market, please read our Position Statement on Electric Vehicles and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment.