10 New Public EV Chargers Coming To Decatur, Illinois - CleanTechnica

Decatur, Illinois, is set to receive 10 new public electric vehicle (EV) chargers, including six fast chargers and four Level 2 chargers, increasing its current total of approximately 67 public chargers. This expansion aligns with the city’s EV Readiness Plan and guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy, addressing Decatur’s lag in publicly accessible EV infrastructure compared to regional peers. The new chargers are part of a broader regional effort, with Springfield—about 38 miles away—also installing chargers, resulting in 50 new public chargers in the area. This incremental growth reflects the gradual nature of expanding EV charging infrastructure. The article emphasizes that increasing public chargers helps alleviate “range anxiety,” a common barrier to EV adoption, by ensuring drivers have convenient access to charging stations spaced roughly 30 miles apart or less. It notes that most U.S. vehicle trips are short—under 6 miles—and only a small percentage exceed 30 miles, suggesting that extremely long EV ranges are unnecessary if