• Posted: March 1, 2022
• ev, EV Charger Installation, ev chargers

Are you starting to think about Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) – also known as EV charging stations or charging docks – for your business or facility? If so, then hiring certified electricians and licensed electrical contractors for Electric Vehicle (EV) charger installation will be on your to-do list.

The most important fact to keep in mind is not all electrical contractors and electricians are the same. Hiring electricians who know the importance of safe and high-quality installations of EV charging stations is critically important.   

This is one of the reasons why Powering Chicago excels at EV charging installation – they continue to train the next generation of electricians, focusing on the latest technology, and always putting safety first. 

1. Powering Chicago Leads the Way for EV Training

While the push to increase EV charging infrastructure is relatively new, the IBEW/NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech) in Alsip, IL, has been training Powering Chicago members on this specialized work for decades.

In 2015, the state-of-the-art Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Training Field opened at IN-Tech to educate and train IBEW Local 134 electricians about green energy concepts and applications. The only one of its kind, this training field provides hands-on education for: 

• Wind and solar power
• Battery storage
• EV charger installation

At IN-Tech, IBEW Local 134 electricians train through a five-year apprenticeship program and graduate as electrical journeypersons. Apprentices complete 8,000 hours of combined classroom and on-the-job training during the program. 

Since Chicago has its own electrical code, it’s more important than ever that business owners and facilities managers select a qualified licensed electrical contractor before beginning your EV charging project — especially one who prioritizes safety. 

2. Powering Chicago Focuses on Safety Above All Else

Since IBEW Local 134 electricians are part of some of the most crucial construction projects in Chicago, safety is always top of mind for Powering Chicago’s certified union electricians and contractors.

At IN-Tech, apprentices learn to thrive in a safety-first work environment with the help of their experienced instructors who have, at one point in their careers, served as journeypersons in the field.

Joe Kilcoyne, Treasurer at the Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund and Business Representative at IBEW Local 134, knows the importance of providing safe and high-quality installations of EV charging stations.

“As qualified persons, all of the safety, troubleshooting, proper wiring, and installation practices are already there as the backbone of our union apprenticeship and electrical training that we’ve been doing for a very long time,” says Kilcoyne.

Powering Chicago believes in the need to teach safety to electricians and contractors, but also to the communities in which EV charger installation is occurring. 

To promote the safe, productive, and sustainable growth of renewable energy system training in Illinois, IBEW Local 134 developed the Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund (REF).

The Illinois IBEW REF also educates area fire departments to ensure firefighters and paramedics are properly prepared to safely handle renewable energy components like solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations. 

The training program focuses on:

• System awareness and identification
• Safety concerns and hazard mitigation
• Codes and standards affecting solar and energy storage

Powering Chicago’s commitment to safety is undeniably strong in terms of training apprentices and preparing Chicago for a larger movement towards increasing EV charging infrastructure.   

Download the New E-book for EV Charger Installation Prep

Expert training and safety preparation are two of the reasons Powering Chicago leads the way in EV charger installation in Chicago and Cook County. Powering Chicago’s new e-book, The Time is Now: Considerations for EV Charging Infrastructure, guides business owners and facility managers who are considering EV charging station installation. 

You’ll learn from electrical experts such as Jennifer Mefford, National Co-chair of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP), Gene Kent, Director of IN-Tech, and leading Powering Chicago electrical contractors. 

The e-book’s six comprehensive sections include: 

• Now Is The Time to Consider EV 
• A Comprehensive Approach to Installing EVSE
• The Powering Chicago Difference 
• Featured Projects by Powering Chicago Members 
• Additional Resources 
• Key Points Summary

Download The Time is Now: Considerations for EV Charging Infrastructure to make the best decisions for your organization’s EV charging infrastructure.