MADISON, Wis. — While electric vehicle ownership continues to grow across the country, some organizations think the Badger State still has some catching up to do with other states.

That’s why Clean Wisconsin is one organization supporting Assembly Bill 846 and Senate Bill 791, which are under consideration by the Wisconsin State Legislature. The proposals address charging station challenges.

What You Need To Know

  • The Wisconsin State Legislature is considering bills to update its eletric vehicle charging policy

  • The proposal would change how people pay to charge their electrical vehicles, from time spent charging to per kilowatt hour used

  • Clean Wisconsin said that simple change would make the state eligible for $78 million in funding to expand EV charging infrastructure

Chelsea Chandler is the climate, energy and air program director for Clean Wisconsin. As an electric vehicle owner, she has been following these bills.

She said one of her organization’s goals is to change how people pay to charge their vehicle. The organization believes this can make a big difference in expanding EV charging infrastructure in the state.

“Right now, in Wisconsin, people pay by the amount of time they’re charging their cars. So right now with my car charging, it’s charging by how long I am waiting here as opposed to the amount of energy I’m actually using,” said Chandler.

Chandler said Wisconsin is one of two states to still charge people this way.

Another concern has been that anyone selling electricity would be considered a public utility.

“We need to modernize our law,” said Chandler. “Understanding that the intent is not for a third party, someone who is providing charging services to be a utility and sell electricity — they are just trying to provide a service to drivers to get their vehicles charged up and ready and go.”

With that simple change of charging customers by kilowatt hour, Chandler said the state would be eligible for $78 million from the federal government.

That money will help to expand the EV charging infrastructure.

“The ideal is to have it be as easy to charge your car as it is to fill up a gas car at the pump,” said Chandler. “Right now, it takes a little bit of extra planning for a lot of electric vehicle drivers. I know living in rural Wisconsin, I need to make sure I can get where I need to go.”

For Chandler, getting an electric vehicle was about reducing her impact on the environment.

She said she hopes Wisconsin can get the funding it needs to make EV charging infrastructure more accessible throughout the state.

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