City of Batavia Opens New Level 3 EV Fast Charging Stations at the Batavia Public Library

BATAVIA – (Jan. 20, 2026) The City of Batavia and the Batavia Public Library have opened four new Level 3 electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers at the Batavia Public Library, now available for public use.

The project was funded in part by a $320,000 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Driving a Cleaner Illinois Grant, administered under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The funding, secured by the City of Batavia Electric Utility, supports the installation and maintenance of publicly available EV charging stations to advance Illinois’ statewide electrification goals.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen steady growth in the number of residents installing home EV chargers, and we’re excited to now offer fast Level 3 charging for both residents and visitors, said Steve Allen, Superintendent of the Batavia Electric Utility. “The IEPA grant played a key role in helping us advance our strategic goals and expand access to electric vehicle charging.”

The Batavia Public Library was selected because the site met grant eligibility requirements and reflects the long-standing partnership between the Library and the City of Batavia. Under a site host agreement, the City managed the installation and will oversee the operation and maintenance of the charging stations, while the Library will maintain the parking spaces. In October, the City installed four level 3 fast chargers for public use at Batavia High School.

“The library was glad to partner with the City of Batavia by providing space on our campus for the EV charging stations. This project shows how working together across agencies can deliver real benefits to the community without adding costs for the Library,” said Josephine Tucci, Director of the Batavia Public Library.

The City partnered with M3 Electrical Contracting on this project. Batavia Electric Utility staff performed the electrical and offsite utility work. The total project cost is approximately $575,000, with non-grant funded expenses covered by the Batavia Electric Utility.

About the Chargers

• Type: Level 3 DC fast chargers with four CCS1 ports
• Power: Up to 240 kW when one port is in use; 120 kW per port when two are in use
• Charging Time: 30–45 minutes for a full charge
• Access: Publicly available 24/7, 365 days a year
• Cost: $0.50 per kWh, payable via app or card reader
• Idle Fee: After charging is complete, drivers have a 30-minute grace period before a $1 per minute fee applies (up to 120 minutes)