Event highlights how community-based outreach, education and fleet rebates are helping businesses adopt electric vehicles and reduce transportation costs

CHICAGO -- (Business Wire)

ComEd today joined local small-business owners and community leaders at Steps Inc. Consulting in Chicago to highlight how electric vehicle (EV) rebate programs, community partnerships and customer education efforts are helping accelerate transportation electrification across northern Illinois.

The event showcased several small businesses that have leveraged ComEd EV rebates and resources to begin transitioning their fleets to electric vehicles. Attendees heard firsthand how participating businesses are reducing barriers to fleet electrification while learning about funding opportunities available through ComEd's Business and Public Sector EV Purchase Program.

"Creating opportunities for businesses and communities to affordably participate in the clean energy transition is essential to accelerating EV adoption across northern Illinois," said Ajit Apte, SVP of Customer Operations at ComEd. "Through our EV Ambassador Program and EV rebate offerings, ComEd is helping connect customers with trusted community leaders, educational resources and financial incentives that make transportation electrification more accessible and affordable."

ComEd launched its EV Ambassador Program to help expand awareness of electric vehicle resources, incentives and educational opportunities available to customers throughout northern Illinois. The program works with trusted community leaders who serve as local advocates, helping customers learn about EV ownership, charging infrastructure, available rebates and fleet electrification opportunities. Through one-on-one engagement, community events and educational outreach, EV Ambassadors help connect customers with the resources needed to participate in Illinois' growing clean transportation economy.

One such ambassador is Nicole Wheatly, founder of Steps Inc. Consulting, who works directly with businesses and community members to raise awareness of available EV incentives and connect customers with resources that support transportation electrification.

Since launching in 2025, ComEd's EV Ambassador Program has engaged more than 350 customers through direct outreach and education efforts and supported more than 20 community events across northern Illinois. The program has helped generate interest in transportation electrification, contributing to 10 EV charging infrastructure and fleet electrification projects entering the development pipeline, five fleet electrification assessments and two electric vehicle installers joining the Electric Vehicle Service Provider network.

"Serving as an EV Ambassador has been a natural extension of the work we already do at Steps Inc. Consulting, which is connecting people with opportunities that can help them grow and succeed," said Nicole Wheatly, owner of Steps Inc. Consulting and ComEd EV Ambassador. "It's exciting to help fellow business owners learn about resources that can lower costs, support sustainability goals and position their businesses for the future."

Among the businesses highlighted during the event was Bronzeville Community Development Partnership, a nonprofit organization which leveraged ComEd's EV rebate offering to add an EV to its fleet. By transitioning a portion of its operations to an electric vehicle, the company expects to reduce fuel and maintenance costs while supporting broader sustainability goals.

A Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise in Chicago also leveraged the rebate program to add an electric delivery vehicle to its fleet, demonstrating how businesses of all sizes can take advantage of available incentives to begin electrifying their operations.

“As electric vehicle adoption continues to grow across Illinois, it is important that businesses of all sizes have access to the information, resources and incentives needed to participate in the transition to cleaner transportation,” said Megha Lakhchaura, Illinois State Electric Vehicle Officer. “Programs like ComEd’s EV Ambassador initiative help connect local businesses with trusted guidance and funding opportunities, supporting fleet electrification while advancing the state's broader transportation and clean energy goals.”

Growing EV adoption remains a key component of Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Since 2024, ComEd has helped support the installation of more than 14,400 public and private charging ports and incentivized the purchase or lease of more than 3,900 electric vehicles across northern Illinois.

In 2026 alone, ComEd has:

• Provided approximately $13.8 million through its EV Rebate Program, with 99% of rebate funding supporting vehicles in low-income and Equity Investment Eligible Communities.
• Helped fund more than 4,600 charging ports and incentivized the purchase or lease of 565 fleet electric vehicles.
• Delivered more than $52.5 million in rebates and supported more than 3,000 approved rebate applications across northern Illinois through the Business and Public Sector EV Purchase Program, Residential EV Charger and Installation Program and Make-Ready Programs.

“The diesel truck fleets of many northern Illinois small businesses are old and in need of replacement with zero-emission EVs for the health of the drivers and the communities through which they drive and deliver. Fleet owners that switch to EVs avoid wildly rising and fluctuating diesel prices. They can be more certain of their total costs as electric vehicles reduce both fuel and maintenance costs,” said Susan Mudd, senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center.

“A recent Chicago region-focused study by Northwestern University researchers found that transitioning 30% of diesel trucks to electric would have significant air quality and health benefits: lower concentrations of health-threatening NO2 and PM2.5 pollutants, reduced health disparities from air pollution exposure now experienced by Black and Hispanic/Latino residents, and fewer climate-changing CO2 emissions. So, ComEd’s EV rebates are good news for small business owners ready to try switching to quiet, zero-emission electrics.”

Creating EV opportunities for customers and communities remains essential as adoption continues to grow across the state. Nearly 176,000 electric vehicles are currently on Illinois roads, including more than 158,000 within ComEd's service territory.

Funding remains available for eligible and select fleet vehicle purchases and leases through ComEd's EV rebate offerings. To learn more about available EV rebates, fleet electrification opportunities and ComEd's EV Ambassador Program, go to ComEd.com/EV.

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 more than 10.7 million electricity and natural gas customers. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4.2 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.

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Contacts:

ComEd Media Relations
312-394-3500

Source: ComEd