Newest cohort of EV Readiness Program announced to help meet growing demand for electric vehicles

CHICAGO (Oct. 16, 2026) — The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (Caucus) and ComEd today announced the fifth cohort of communities participating in the award-winning EV Readiness Program, a unique initiative that helps local governments across northern Illinois prepare to meet the continued growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging infrastructure. Through the program, 15 communities and one regional organization will receive technical assistance to help streamline policies and implement best practices that support safe and effective transportation electrification.

The fifth cohort includes Aurora, Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, Cary, Crest Hill, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Highland Park, Homer Glen, Lincolnshire, Mount Prospect, Orland Park, Park Ridge, Riverside and Westchester.

“Our partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus has allowed us to work closely with communities across northern Illinois as they plan for the future of transportation,” said Ajit Apte, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations at ComEd. “Through the EV Readiness program, communities can access the guidance and support needed to make meaningful steps toward their EV readiness goals.”

ComEd and the Caucus first launched the EV Readiness program in 2022 to help local governments prepare for increased EV adoption and its cost savings, environmental and public health benefits. Since then, 45 communities across northern Illinois have completed the program, with nine graduating in the latest cohort.

The program’s continued growth reflects the increasing adoption of electric vehicles across Illinois, with more than 184,169 EVs registered in Illinois.

“When we look at EV registrations across the region, we’re seeing more residents choose electric vehicles,” said Kevin Burns, Mayor, City of Geneva, Illinois, and Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Environment and Energy Committee Chair. “The EV Readiness Program helps communities prepare for the growing adoption of EVs and expansion of changing infrastructure by providing the tools and guidance they need to plan for their communities’ future.”

Participants follow a pathway toward EV Ready Bronze, Silver, and Gold by completing actions related to EV adoption or infrastructure with Aurora, Highland Park, Downers Grove and Darien “leveling up” this year.

The fifth cohort kicked off today and is expected to complete the program by summer 2027.

“Joining the EV Readiness program gives us access to valuable tools and expertise as we plan for our community’s transportation future,” said Angelo “Skip” Saviano, Village President of Elmwood Park. “We look forward to building on the work we’ve already done, learning from other communities, and identifying opportunities to prepare Elmwood Park for the continued growth of electric vehicles.”

“The EV Readiness Program demonstrates the power of local governments working together to lead the way in clean transportation,” said Mark Kownick, Mayor of the Village of Cary and Caucus Executive Board Treasurer. “We look forward to collaborating with the Caucus and other communities, as we identify EV readiness strategies that make sense for the Village and our residents.”

The EV Readiness Program has earned recognition for its impact, including the 2025 Innovative Community Program/Special Project Award from the Illinois Association of Municipal Management Assistants and finalist recognition in the Chicago Innovation Awards.

In addition to the EV Readiness Program, ComEd offers rebates and incentives to help residential, business, and public sector customers to help offset the costs of EVs and charging infrastructure. To date, ComEd has provided more than $220M in EV incentive and rebate funding across Illinois.

To learn more about ComEd’s EV programs and available rebates, please visit www.comed.com/EV.

About the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is a membership organization of the Chicago region’s 275 cities, towns and villages. Founded in 1997, the Caucus pushes past geographical boundaries and local interests to work on public policy issues. The organization provides a forum for metropolitan Chicago’s chief elected officials to collaborate on common problems and work toward a common goal of improving the quality of life for the millions of people who call the region home. For more information, visit mayorscaucus.org, and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

About ComEd

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation’s largest utility companies, serving almost 11 million customers through six fully regulated transmission and distribution utilities — Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO, and Pepco. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information, visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.