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Green Vehicles


Electric Vehicle Charging

The installations of the EV charging stations supports the City of Chicago's goal to reduce Chicago's greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, as outlined in the Chicago Climate Action Plan.


 
 
 

Locations - O'Hare

Two public, Level II electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are available at O'Hare. The stations are located on the first level (hourly parking) of the O'Hare short-term parking garage (the Main Parking Garage - Lot A​) adjacent to the entrance to/from the Bus/Shuttle Center. Both stations are available for public use.

The Level II EV chargers are 240-volt, 7.2-kilowatt stations, capable of fully charging an EV in approximately three to eight hours.


Locations - Midway

Six Level II electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and one Level III 'Quick Charge' station are located at Midway. All stations are available for public use.

  • Two stations are located in the Cell Phone Lot, including a Level II and Level III Quick Charge station. 
    • The 90-space Cell Phone Lot ​ is located at 61st and Cicero Avenue just south of the main airport entrance. The Cell Phone Lot is located less than four minutes from the main terminal area and is easily accessible to motorists.​
  • Two Level II EV charging stations are located in the Long-Term Parking Garage (​Lot E) Level 1 (4799 West 54th Street).
    • Complimentary shuttle bus service is available from the Long-Term Parking Garage to the terminal 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
  • Three more Level II stations are located in the Short-Term Parking Garage​ at the ground level (hourly parking) near Pillar #1J (5600 South Cicero Avenue).

The existing Level II EV chargers are 240 volt, 7.2 kilowatt and are capable of fully charging an EV in approximately three to eight hours. The Level III DC Quick Charge station in the Cell Phone Lot can fully charge an EV in about 30 minutes.

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Payment

Payment is accepted via major credit and debit cards.


The Benefits Of EV Charging Stations

​The benefits of installing EV charging stations at O'Hare and Midway International Airports:

  • Support the development of EV charging capacity in the Chicago area
  • Lessen driver range anxiety by increasing the useful range of EVs
  • Meet the anticipated increase in demand for EVs as the number and variety of EVs increases
  • Improve energy security by displacing imported petroleum with domestically generated electricity, reducing dependency on foreign oil
  • Lower fuel costs and reduce uncertainty over varying fuel prices
  • Increase the use of EVs that:
    • Produce no tailpipe emissions (also no emissions from electrical production if a renewable energy source is utilized)
    • Support the use of vehicles that require less maintenance than internal combustion engine vehicles; e.g., no oil changes, no emissions testing, and smaller engine part inventories
    • Have efficient electric motors that convert about 75 percent of the chemical energy from the batteries to power the wheels (internal combustion engines only convert about 20 percent of the energy stored in gasoline)

​Green Fleet Vehicles

To reduce vehicle emissions, the CDA operates alternatively-fueled and hybrid fleet vehicles at O'Hare. The fleet includes:

  • Over 60 hybrid SUVs, buses and pickups
  • 10 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks and vans
  • Over 260 flex-fuel sedans, pickup trucks, police vehicles and SUVs powered by E85 ethanol (a blend of fuel containing 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline)
  • O'Hare operates 55 diesel-powered vehicles with the latest engine technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. In compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's mandate, these vehicles use diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction applications to significantly reduce engine emission levels.

The CDA operates alternatively-fueled and hybrid fleet vehicles at Midway also.

  • Approximately 40 percent of the Midway vehicle fleet consists of gasoline hybrid or ethanol (E85) fuel-powered vehicles.
  • An on-airport ethanol fuel tank provides E85 (a blend of fuel containing 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded gasoline) to more than a dozen of the CDA's flex-fuel sedans, pickup trucks, police vehicles and SUVs.
  • The fleet also includes more than 25 hybrid sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks.
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Designated Hybrid Vehicle Parking - O'Hare

The CDA provides preferred parking for hybrid vehicles at O'Hare. In most lots premier parking spaces are available for Hybrid Vehicles. Look for available spots with Hybrid Vehicle Only signs. There are over 60 designated spaces, including 32 in the O’Hare Main Parking Garage as well as in surface parking lots.


Designated Hybrid Vehicle Parking - Midway

In addition to electric vehicle charging stations, the CDA provides preferred parking for hybrid vehicles at Midway. This practice encourages employees and the public to operate low-emission hybrid vehicles around the airport instead of conventionally-fueled vehicles.

Spaces are located near the elevator lobbies in the parking garages and by the shuttle bus stops in the surface parking lots​. A map of preferred parking for hybrid vehicles is provided below. For more information, please call (773) 838-0756.

  
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Green Taxis

The CDA provides compressed natural gas (CNG) taxi cabs with preferential access to the terminals at O'Hare and Midway, encouraging the use of CNG taxi cabs instead of traditionally-fueled vehicles. The CDA's program complements the City of Chicago's Green Taxi Incremental Cost Allowance Program ("Green Taxi Program") launched in April 2011 by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). The CDA's program also supports the City's goal to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals outlined in the Chicago Climate Action Plan​.

Thanks to the BACP's leadership and guidance, the CDA's pilot program has been a tremendous success. Each month, the number of trips in CNG cabs has increased. The CNG taxis have traditional car engines that have been converted to run 100 percent on CNG, which is a cleaner fuel than traditional gasoline.

Approximately 30 CNG cabs are used on a daily basis at O'Hare, making more than 2,500 trips per month.

The CDA is also planning to operate a fueling station that will supply multiple alternative fuels to commercial and private vehicles at and around O'Hare. The alternative fueling station will be located near the intersection of Mannheim and Higgins Rd. and will aid in fueling the increasing fleet of CNG taxi cabs serving O'Hare.


                                                                                       


Ecodriving

The CDA has also followed the BACP's initiative to educate taxi drivers about "EcoDriving" practices to reduce emissions and save drivers up to $2,200 per year in fuel costs. EcoDriving signs and brochures are posted around the airport to provide insight on idling, weight, air conditioning use, cruise control, proper tire inflation, and other topics.


Cab Drivers

To be eligible for short trip lane access, CNG cabs need to display the official City of Chicago "Green Taxi Chicago Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle" sticker, which can be obtained at the Public Vehicle Inspection Facility at 2420 West Pershing Road.

Questions about the program can be sent to BACPPV@cityofchicago.org​ or by calling the Public Vehicle Operations Division at (312) 746-4300.


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