• Posted: July 27, 2026

 

As municipalities, businesses, and property owners prepare for a future with more electric vehicles, installing charging stations has become more than simply adding new equipment. Every successful project depends on careful planning, electrical infrastructure upgrades, coordination among multiple partners, and experienced electrical contractors who understand the unique requirements of EV charging systems.

The Village of River Forest recently demonstrated what a successful commercial EV charging station installation looks like through a collaborative project that expanded public charging access while supporting the village’s transition to an electric municipal fleet. Featured in Episode 24 of The Power of Better, the project brought together Christopher B. Burke Engineering, GreenWays2Go, and Powering Chicago Member Contractor Connelly Electric to deliver an infrastructure solution designed for long-term community needs.

Planning Beyond the Charging Stations

Electric vehicle adoption continues to accelerate. Approximately one-quarter of new vehicles sold globally in 2025 were electric, increasing demand for reliable charging infrastructure in communities across the country. River Forest responded by installing more than a dozen new charging stations while advancing its broader fleet electrification goals.

Before a single charging station could be installed, the project required careful planning, including evaluating electrical capacity, coordinating utility requirements, planning for future fleet electrification, and designing infrastructure to support both public charging and municipal operations.

“The cost of the new charging stations was about $650,000. However, we benefited from rebates from the State of Illinois that covered almost two-thirds of the cost of installing the new stations. Those dollars go a long way to allowing us to implement new initiatives like that,” said Walsh, Village Administrator, Village of River Forest.

For municipalities and commercial property owners, available incentives can significantly reduce project costs, making early planning even more valuable.

Engineering and Electrical Expertise Matter

Projects involving commercial EV charging station installation require close collaboration between engineers and experienced electrical contractors.

Christopher B. Burke Engineering led the system design while partnering with Connelly Electric to execute the electrical work.

“From design through construction, it took approximately 12 months to complete. All the sites at the end there’s ten ports of level two and eight ports of DC fast charging, so a total of 18 different ports within the village that we’ve provided,” said Dave Novak, Head of Sales, Commercial and Industrial Energy, Christopher B. Burke Engineering.

That planning phase helped ensure the charging infrastructure would meet both current and future operational demands.

Building the Electrical Infrastructure

Installing EV chargers involves much more than mounting equipment.

Connelly Electric designed and installed the electrical infrastructure supporting the charging network.

“Our role in this project was to bring the EVSE infrastructure and installation for the Village of River Forest. We were able to work with Christopher B. Burke Engineering at designing a scope plan and review to take care of their electrical infrastructure for this project,” said Nick Pupich, Director of Controls and Specialized Solutions, Connelly Electric.

This level of collaboration helped reduce construction challenges while ensuring the electrical system could reliably support high-powered charging equipment.

Choosing Equipment for Long-Term Performance

Technology selection also plays a critical role in any commercial EV charging project.

GreenWays2Go helped specify the charging equipment used throughout River Forest, selecting technology designed to support both current charging needs and future demand.

“These are ChargePoint CPE 250s. They are DC fast chargers – in a half an hour, you might be able to get a couple hundred miles of range,” said Tim Milburn, President, GreenWays2Go.

Selecting equipment that aligns with vehicle usage, charging demand, and future expansion helps maximize the long-term value of the investment.

Creating an EV-Ready Community

River Forest’s investment earned Gold certification through the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus EV Readiness Program.

Gold certification requires much more than installing charging stations. Communities must demonstrate a long-term commitment to electrification through planning, permitting, policy development, and fleet strategy.

“They need to conduct a fleet assessment and look at electrifying their fleet,” said Cheryl Scott, Senior Sustainability Specialist, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

For municipalities and commercial organizations considering similar projects, EV infrastructure should be viewed as part of a broader operational strategy rather than a standalone installation.

The Right Electrical Contractor Makes the Difference

Large-scale EV infrastructure projects involve utility coordination, electrical service upgrades, permitting, construction sequencing, and ongoing collaboration among multiple stakeholders.

“It’s very important to pick out the right electrical contractor for EV installations, because additional tasks that typically go into one of these projects. Connelly Electric was very professional, on time, on budget,” said Novak.

Connelly Electric’s collaborative approach helped support every stage of the project, from planning and design through installation.

“We’re able to come up with planning and design to help out our customers and our construction partners to get the fastest and easiest solutions,” said Pupich.

For municipalities, developers, facility managers, and fleet operators, choosing qualified Chicago electrical contractors with experience delivering complex infrastructure projects can help reduce risk while improving long-term performance.

Powering Better Communities Through Collaboration

River Forest’s project demonstrates what is possible when municipalities, engineers, electrical contractors, and industry partners work toward a common goal.

The result is more than new charging stations. It is infrastructure that supports fleet electrification, expands public access to EV charging, and prepares the community for future transportation needs.

“If there’s any doubt or concern about taking on an initiative like this, they should reach out to help share our story, our success story, and hope that allays any doubt or concern about proceeding with a project like this,” said Walsh.

Watch episode 24 of The Power of Better here, and subscribe to Powering Chicago’s YouTube channel for future episodes of The Power of Better, featuring innovative electrical projects, emerging technologies, and the expertise of Powering Chicago member contractors. Planning your own project? Use the Find a Contractor Tool to find a qualified electrical contractor in the Chicagoland area.