Estimating the Impact of EV Charging in Chicago Based on Patterns Evidenced in a Sample Charging Facility

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Published: Apr 30, 2026
Keywords:
Electric Vehicles, EV charging, EV adoption, Charging infrastructure, EV Impact.

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Juan Acosta-Sequeda
Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, 1200 W Harrison St, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60611; Email: jacost42@uic.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2940-1874
Uttara Sutradhar
Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, 1200 W Harrison St, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60611; Email: usutra2@uic.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5325-8521
Fatemeh Allahakbari
Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, 1200 W Harrison St, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60611; Email: falla@uic.edu
Anchal Bansal
Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, 1200 W Harrison St, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60611; Email: anchalb2@uic.edu
Sybil Derrible
Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, 1200 W Harrison St, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60611; Email: derrible@uic.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2939-6016
Joshua Auld
Argonne National Laboratory, Transportation and Power Systems (TAPS), 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439; Email: jauld@anl.gov
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2492-0093
Ömer Verbas
Argonne National Laboratory, Transportation and Power Systems (TAPS), 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439; Email: omer@anl.gov
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4831-7475

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging on electricity usage across various zones in the Chicago region, analyzing both the magnitude and distribution of demand. Using baseline charging curves, EV registrations, and charging port availability, EV electricity consumption patterns are assessed for workdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The results reveal that workday EV charging electricity usage peaks at approximately 2,500 kWh, whereas weekend usage drops below 600 kWh. High-impact areas, defined here as zones with both high overall electricity consumption and a substantial proportion attributed to EVs, include Chicago, Evanston, Buffalo Grove, and Glenview. Geographically, the highest impacts are concentrated in downtown Chicago, the north and west suburbs, and Rochelle, Illinois.

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