Clean vehicle fleets are the right choice for Illinois. Clean trucks mean cleaner air for Illinoisans, especially those disproportionately impacted by dirty, long-range trucking across the state. Transitioning the diesel vehicles that drive along these routes to modern, zero-emission fleets will reduce harmful air pollution for local residents, all while lowering operating costs for Illinois’ fleet managers, state and municipal operations, and local businesses. And Illinoisans can reap these benefits even faster through adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule. By expanding clean fleets, Illinois can strengthen its growing zero-emission vehicle market, stimulate local economies, and satisfy growing consumer demand for high-performing, clean vehicles.

 Illinois Needs Clean Air

 

Thoughts on Clean Fleets

A statewide survey conducted during June of 2022 by YouGov on behalf of Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) quantifies Illinoisans’ concerns over local air pollution, as well their support for policies that would counteract a major source: emissions from gas and diesel vehicles. The poll finds that residents want to see a rapid transition to clean trucks, buses, and vans and support ACT adoption, among other policies, to more quickly make that switch.

Key Findings

  • More than half of Illinoisans (54%) support adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule.
  • More than half of Illinoisans (55%) support establishing a low carbon fuel standard.
  • 40% of Illinoisans are more likely to vote for a candidate who focused on reducing vehicle emissions (only 16% of Illinoisans were less likely to vote for a candidate with this stance).
  • 68% of Illinoisans feel public officials should do more to help businesses who want to convert their company vehicles to electric.
  • The majority of Illinoisans (66%) feel that public officials should work to ensure as many electric vehicle models as possible are available for residents and businesses.
DOWNLOAD POLL RESULTS

Benefits of Clean Fleets

  1. Clean Fleets Reduce Costs for Small Businesses and Create Jobs

    Electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks have a 13% lower total cost of ownership compared to diesel ones, equaling a net savings of $200,000 over a truck’s life for businesses. According to the Illinois Clean Trucks Program, the adoption of the Advanced Clean Truck Rule and Heavy-Duty Omnibus Rule will also directly adding almost 8,400 new, jobs to the state by 2045. The largest number of new jobs will be in electrical component manufacturing and charging infrastructure construction, which will create many high-paying jobs for electricians and electrical engineers.

  2. Clean School Buses Save Money and Keep the Lights on During Emergencies

    Schools that operate electric school buses save an estimated $5,000-10,000 each year in fuel and maintenance costs compared to diesel buses. These clean vehicles can additionally benefit local communities by doubling as “mobile batteries” capable of providing clean back-up power to the energy grid during emergencies or other power shortages. 

  3. Clean Trucks, Clean Air, Healthier Communities

    A study by the Respiratory Health Association found that 12 of Illinois’ 102 counties rank in the top 9% of all U.S. counties at risk of the health societal, and economic impacts caused by diesel air pollution, Illinois also has the fifth highest number of deaths from diesel pollution per capita. Illinois can better protect the communities already disproportionately burdened by chronic air pollution by transitioning to electric and other zero-emission vehicles.  The Illinois Clean Trucks Program estimates that the cumulative public health savings from the ACT Rule and the NOx Omnibus rule to be more than $9.0 billion over the next 30 years.  The rules will also result in 765 fewer premature deaths, 874 fewer hospital visits from breathing polluted air, and 481,090 fewer cases of acute bronchitis, exacerbated asthma, and other respiratory symptoms.

  4. Clean Fleets Are Climate Friendly 

    The transportation sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Illinois and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are responsible for 67% of the nitrogen oxide and 59% of the particulate matter emitted by on-road vehicles. Illinois can eliminate these pollutants from our roads and airways by transitioning to electric and other zero-emission vehicles. 

  5. Clean Fleets Improve Quality of Life and Public Safety 

    Electrified fleets produce significantly less noise pollution when traveling through neighborhoods and busy roadways. They also reduce direct exposure to toxic tailpipe emissions for residents that live along bus and truck routes, making neighborhoods safer and more livable.

Clean Fleet Innovators

Clean fleet technology is available now! Explore the innovators below to see some of the modern technology that will lead to a healthier, more prosperous Illinois.