In Celebration of EV Industry Day 2024: Event Recap (+ Photos!)

Take a Look Inside: EV Industry Day 2024

As an arm of mighty — and growing — Team Illinois, Intersect Illinois was proud to co-host the inaugural Illinois EV Industry Day. Bringing together a tremendous mix of EV industry companies and suppliers, we explored how Illinois can continue to lead the EV revolution — and why, for EV companies and their partners, there’s never been a better time to #BeinIllinois.

Alongside the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), World Business Chicago, Innovate Illinois, and Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA), we had the honor of welcoming Governor JB Pritzker and Intersect Illinois’ Chairman John Atkinson to introduce the anticipated event.

“Illinois is fast becoming a hub for thriving EV companies and suppliers,” noted Atkinson. “As we continue to attract more jobs and investment in this growing industry, EV Industry Day is bringing our ecosystem of manufacturers and suppliers together to advance collaboration and ensure that Illinois remains at the forefront of the EV revolution.”

It was a moment to celebrate: Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, and through the state’s investments in EV infrastructure and workforce training, Illinois has become home to some of today’s most innovative players in the EV ecosystem.

We got to hear from some of those industry leaders — Rivian, Lion, and TCI — who kicked off the morning following Governor Pritzker’s warm welcome to attendees.

Check out some notable takeaways from EV Industry Day 2024’s fireside chat, panel discussions, and matchmaking, and how Illinois can quickly and significantly benefit your business, too.

 

Why Illinois for EV Companies? Here’s a 3-Part Breakdown

#1: Infrastructure

Advantageously positioned in the heart of America (and home to the world’s most connected airport, Chicago O’Hare), Illinois’ strategic location, robust infrastructure, and reliable power grid create an environment unmatched, especially for EV companies. Most notably:

• $148M in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding has been allocated for Illinois’ EV charging network through 2027, ensuring greater dependability and ease of use for EV drivers
• As part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is providing grants totaling $70M to increase the number of EV chargers available, doubling the number to nearly 2K
• The state is investing in mega-site development to ensure readiness to accommodate the needs of large companies like Rivian, Lion, and Gotion, as well as their suppliers
• $45B has been invested in modernizing roads, bridges, airports, ports, and universities through 2025 (with 5.3K+ miles of highway having been built or modernized since 2019 alone)
• Within a 4-hour flight of nearly the entire North American market, Illinois ranks #2 in the nation for infrastructure according to CNBC’s Top States for Business

#2: Workforce

For companies across industries today, the importance of a skilled and ready workforce cannot be overstated. Illinois:

• Is a top-10 producer of engineering, computer science, and precision production talent in the U.S.
• Is 1^st in the Midwest for workforce development according to Site Selection magazine, readying the next generation of EV pioneers via 25 early career technical training centers
• Has invested $180M in renewable energy workforce training since 2021 alone through CEJA
• Invested $10M into community college EV programs again (!) this year through REV (Reimagining Energy and Vehicles) grants
• Works closely with EV manufacturers and community colleges, providing additional investments totaling $40M in EV training since 2021

#3: Supportive Ecosystem

Illinois’ ecosystems — both in business and in the auto industry — are thriving. There’s room to grow in Illinois, and EV companies can expect to be supported every step of the way. Our state boasts:

• More than 1K businesses across the EV supply chain
• 100+ EV and ICE (internal combustion engine) assembly plans within 500 miles
• Aggressive goals in a sustainable future: Illinois is the first state in the Midwest to commit to reaching 100% clean energy by 2050
• Game-changing legislation: the historic CEJA stands at the forefront of many emerging industries, which includes a goal of 1M passenger EVs on the road by 2030
• Significant incentives to spur economic growth, such as REV, which incentivizes EV, solar, renewable, and energy storage manufacturers to move or expand in Illinois

Illinois EV Leaders: Who’s Here + What’s Next

OEMS (original equipment manufacturers):

• RIVIAN: Employing more than 8,000 in Normal at their manufacturing facility, Rivian is expanding to make a new line of SUVs at a price point accessible to more people.
• LION ELECTRIC: Lion Electric is investing more than $131M in the largest all-electric commercial vehicle production plant of its kind in the U.S.

Suppliers:

• GOTION: A pioneer in EV, Gotion is a new state-of-the-art $2B EV lithium battery manufacturing plant in Manteno.
• TCCI: Having recently broken ground on a new EV Innovation Hub in Decatur, TCI is a global leader in electric compressors for commercial, heavy-duty, and automotive specialty markets; their EV Innovation Hub is a critical part of Illinois’ growing EV ecosystem.
• EVBOX: Founded in 2010, EVBox is a market leader in EV charging infrastructure that has delivered over 500K charging ports to partners and customers worldwide. The company is a global leader in the EV charging sector and a key player in Illinois’ rapidly growing EV manufacturing ecosystem.

Did you miss EV Industry Day 2024? Subscribe to our mailing list to be notified of next year’s event, sure to be even bigger. You won’t want to miss it!

Interested in learning more about what Illinois can do for you? Get in touch with our team today, and let’s talk growth for your business.