Illinois is not a charging desert. It has dense coverage in the north-east and long, quiet stretches everywhere else. The stranding calls cluster in six places.
1. I-90 between Elgin and Belvidere
Tollway plazas have chargers, but the westbound run past Elgin has few alternatives if a stall is down. Drivers who leave the city with a small margin arrive here with none.
2. I-55 between Pontiac and Bloomington-Normal
Rural miles with long gaps between interchanges. A cold headwind on this stretch is the classic winter stranding.
3. I-57 between Kankakee and Rantoul
Almost nothing off the ramp. If you passed the last charger hoping for the next one, this is where the hope ends.
4. I-94 from Waukegan to the Wisconsin line
Not empty — just busy, with tight shoulders. A stopped car here is a safety problem before it is a charging problem.
5. I-88 between DeKalb and Dixon
Open farmland, crosswinds, and a range estimate that turns optimistic the moment you point west.
6. I-80 between Ottawa and Princeton
Heavy truck traffic, sparse charging, narrow shoulder in places. Statistically our least favourite call.
What to do differently on these roads
- Leave with 20% more than the map says you need. The map does not know about wind.
- Charge before the gap, not in the middle of it.
- If a stall is down, deal with it there rather than pressing on.
If it happens anyway
Get as far onto the shoulder as the car will go, hazards on, and call with the mile marker and direction. A mobile charge at the shoulder is far safer than a tow hookup on the same shoulder.