ComEd EV Ambassador Program Helps Small Businesses Accelerate Transportation Electrification in Northern Illinois
ComEd is expanding its efforts to support electric vehicle adoption across northern Illinois by working with small businesses, community organizations and local leaders to make transportation electrification more accessible. The utility recently joined business owners and community representatives at Steps Inc. Consulting in Chicago to spotlight how electric vehicle rebates, community partnerships and customer education are helping organizations overcome some of the challenges associated with transitioning to electric transportation.
The event brought together several small businesses that have already taken advantage of ComEd’s electric vehicle incentives and resources. Business owners shared their experiences with fleet electrification and discussed how financial assistance, education and community-based support can help organizations make the transition to electric vehicles while managing costs.
At the center of the discussion was ComEd’s Business and Public Sector EV Purchase Program, which provides eligible organizations with financial incentives for qualifying electric vehicle purchases or leases. The program is part of a broader effort by ComEd to encourage businesses and public-sector organizations to consider electric transportation as they replace or expand their vehicle fleets.
Supporting Businesses in the Clean Transportation Transition
As electric vehicle technology continues to develop, businesses are increasingly evaluating EVs as an alternative to conventional gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. For many small businesses, however, the initial cost of purchasing electric vehicles, installing charging infrastructure and understanding available programs can create challenges.
ComEd’s EV rebate programs are designed to help address some of these barriers. Alongside financial incentives, the utility is providing educational resources and connecting customers with community organizations that can help them better understand the electrification process.
“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.”
The company’s approach combines financial support with direct community engagement. This is particularly important for small businesses that may not have dedicated sustainability teams or specialized staff to research electric vehicle programs.
By working with community leaders and local business owners, ComEd aims to make information about EV incentives, charging infrastructure and fleet electrification easier to access.
EV Ambassador Program Expands Community Outreach
ComEd launched its EV Ambassador Program to increase awareness of electric vehicle resources and educational opportunities available to customers throughout northern Illinois.
The program works with trusted community leaders who serve as local advocates for transportation electrification. These ambassadors help residents and businesses understand EV ownership, charging options, available rebates and opportunities to transition commercial fleets.
Rather than relying solely on traditional customer communications, the program emphasizes direct engagement. EV Ambassadors can interact with customers through community events, educational programs and individual conversations, helping businesses identify resources that may be appropriate for their particular needs.
The program is also intended to make EV information more approachable for organizations that may be unfamiliar with electric transportation.
One of the program’s ambassadors is Nicole Wheatly, founder of Steps Inc. Consulting. Through her work with businesses and community members, Wheatly helps raise awareness about EV incentives and connects customers with resources that can support transportation electrification.
Since its launch in 2025, ComEd’s EV Ambassador Program has engaged more than 350 customers through direct outreach and educational activities. The program has also supported more than 20 community events throughout northern Illinois.
Those efforts have contributed to 10 EV charging infrastructure and fleet electrification projects entering the development pipeline. The initiative has also supported five fleet electrification assessments and helped bring two electric vehicle installers into ComEd’s 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 Wheatly, owner of Steps Inc. Consulting and a 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,” she added.
Small Businesses Demonstrate Practical EV Applications
The Chicago event highlighted how organizations in different industries can use electric vehicles for everyday business operations.
Among the businesses featured was the Bronzeville Community Development Partnership, a nonprofit organization that used ComEd’s EV rebate offering to add an electric vehicle to its fleet.
For organizations that rely on vehicles for staff transportation, community programs or other operations, moving even part of a fleet to electric can provide an opportunity to evaluate the technology while working toward longer-term sustainability objectives.
The organization expects its EV transition to help lower fuel and maintenance expenses while supporting its broader sustainability goals.
A Chicago-area Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise also used the rebate program to add an electric delivery vehicle to its fleet. The example demonstrates that EV adoption is not limited to large corporations or companies with extensive transportation operations.
Small delivery fleets can also benefit from electric vehicles when the vehicles’ range, charging requirements and operating patterns align with business needs.
These examples illustrate the role incentives can play in helping organizations test and adopt electric transportation without having to absorb the entire upfront cost themselves.
Illinois Continues to Expand EV Adoption
The growth of electric transportation is also closely connected to Illinois’ broader clean-energy objectives.
Electric vehicle adoption is an important component of the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which seeks to advance clean energy, reduce emissions and create economic opportunities associated with the clean-energy transition.
ComEd reports that since 2024, it has supported the installation of more than 14,400 public and private EV charging ports and incentivized the purchase or lease of more than 3,900 electric vehicles across northern Illinois.
The utility’s programs are intended to support both vehicle adoption and the charging infrastructure necessary to make electric transportation practical.
In 2026, ComEd has provided approximately $13.8 million through its EV Rebate Program, with 99% of that rebate funding supporting vehicles in low-income and Equity Investment Eligible Communities.
The utility has also helped fund more than 4,600 charging ports and incentivized the purchase or lease of 565 fleet electric vehicles during the year.
In addition, ComEd reports that it has delivered more than $52.5 million in rebates and supported more than 3,000 approved rebate applications across northern Illinois through its Business and Public Sector EV Purchase Program, Residential EV Charger and Installation Program and Make-Ready Programs.
Together, these programs demonstrate an effort to address several parts of the EV transition, including vehicle costs, residential charging, commercial charging and infrastructure development.
Fleet Electrification Could Reduce Operating Costs
For businesses that operate trucks, vans or other high-mileage vehicles, operating expenses are an important factor when considering fleet replacement.
Traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles can expose businesses to fluctuating fuel prices. Electric vehicles, meanwhile, can potentially reduce fuel and routine maintenance costs, depending on the vehicle and its operating conditions.
Susan Mudd, senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center, emphasized the opportunity for small businesses operating aging diesel fleets.
“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,” Mudd said.
She noted that businesses transitioning from diesel to electric vehicles can reduce their exposure to fuel-price fluctuations while potentially lowering fuel and maintenance expenses.
For small-business owners, predictable operating costs can be an important consideration when deciding whether to replace conventional fleet vehicles with EVs.
Potential Environmental and Health Benefits
The transition to electric vehicles also has implications beyond individual businesses.
Transportation emissions contribute to air pollution in communities, particularly in areas with significant traffic and concentrations of commercial vehicles. Replacing conventional diesel vehicles with zero-emission electric alternatives can reduce tailpipe emissions.
Mudd also pointed to research focused on the Chicago region by Northwestern University researchers. According to Mudd, the study found that transitioning 30% of diesel trucks to electric vehicles could produce significant air-quality and health benefits.
Potential benefits identified include lower concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter, along with reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.
The study also highlighted potential implications for communities that currently experience higher exposure to transportation-related air pollution.
For ComEd and its partners, these potential benefits reinforce the importance of making EV adoption accessible to a broad range of customers, including small businesses and organizations operating in communities that could benefit from cleaner transportation.
Electric Vehicle Market Continues to Grow
The need for EV education and infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as the number of electric vehicles on Illinois roads continues to rise.
Nearly 176,000 electric vehicles are currently operating across Illinois, including more than 158,000 vehicles within ComEd’s service territory.
As the EV population grows, businesses will increasingly need access to reliable charging infrastructure, qualified installers, financial incentives and practical information about fleet electrification.
Programs such as ComEd’s EV Ambassador initiative are designed to help bridge that information gap by bringing resources directly into communities.
Community-based education can also help businesses understand the difference between purchasing an EV and developing a complete electrification strategy. For fleet operators, that strategy may include evaluating vehicle routes, determining charging needs, assessing electrical infrastructure and identifying available rebates.
Incentives Can Help Businesses Take the Next Step
The experience of businesses highlighted at the Chicago event demonstrates how financial incentives and community partnerships can work together to accelerate EV adoption.
For a small business, the decision to purchase an electric vehicle can involve several questions. Owners may need to consider the upfront vehicle price, charging requirements, daily mileage, maintenance, electricity costs and the availability of suitable charging locations.
Rebates can help reduce the initial financial barrier, while educational resources and EV Ambassadors can provide guidance throughout the decision-making process.
ComEd’s programs therefore represent more than an incentive for purchasing vehicles. They are part of a broader transportation electrification strategy that includes customer education, charging infrastructure and partnerships with businesses and community organizations.
As Illinois continues to increase its focus on clean transportation, small businesses are expected to remain an important part of the EV transition.
Large corporations and government fleets can often dedicate significant resources to electrification planning, but small businesses may need additional assistance to understand available programs and determine whether EVs fit their operations.
ComEd’s EV Ambassador Program is intended to address that need by connecting businesses and community members with trusted local representatives and practical information.
The utility says funding remains available for eligible and select fleet vehicle purchases and leases through its EV rebate offerings.
Businesses interested in learning about available incentives, fleet electrification opportunities, charging resources and the EV Ambassador Program can access additional information through ComEd’s electric vehicle resources.
With EV adoption continuing to grow across Illinois, the combination of financial incentives, community partnerships and customer education could play an increasingly important role in helping small businesses transition their fleets. By lowering upfront barriers and providing access to information, programs such as ComEd’s EV initiatives are helping organizations explore electric transportation while contributing to the state’s broader clean-energy and transportation goals.
For northern Illinois businesses, the growing availability of rebates, charging infrastructure and community-based guidance offers a pathway toward integrating electric vehicles into everyday operations. As more organizations make the transition, the benefits could extend beyond individual businesses to include lower operating costs, cleaner transportation and improved environmental outcomes for communities throughout the region.
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