CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — The ability to charge an electric vehicle (EV) as you travel across Wisconsin will get easier thanks to the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

Federal funds to put more chargers in more places, especially rural areas that can be harder to reach, is now a reality.

What You Need To Know

  • The first fast charging electric vehicle charging stations in Wisconsin, funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, went online in December

  • Those federal funds were made available from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which President Joe Biden enacted in November 2021

  • Since the state won’t own or operate the chargers, business partners, including Kwik Trip, have applied for and received grant funding

  • A total of 24 Kwik Trip locations will install fast chargers, with stores in Ashland, Menomonie, and Chippewa Falls having already done so
  • The chargers are among 53 projects that WisDOT awarded nearly $23 million for last year, out of a total of more than $78 million the state is expected to receive over the next five years

The first fast-charging stations in Wisconsin to come from the federal funds went online in December at Kwik Trip stores in Ashland, Menomonie, and Chippewa Falls.

“We have guests who have requested this service,” John McHugh, Vice President of External Relations at Kwik Trip, explained. “We want to be customer focused. If we have guests who are driving EVs, and they would like to be able to shop at Kwik Trip and “fuel” their vehicle with electricity, we want to make sure we provide that option for them. It’s for our guests.”

A total of 24 Kwik Trip locations across the state were awarded grants for the fast chargers, so Wisconsinites won’t see them everywhere.

“We’ll only have 20% of our stores that will have EV charging capacity, and a lot of it is for people who are doing some major commutes,” McHugh added. “So, for example, here in Chippewa Falls, we’re right on Hwy. 29, which is a major East-West corridor. That would be a good location for EV charging.”

This year, the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation (WisDOT) is seeking an additional 13 locations along the state’s alternative fuel corridors. Those locations are provided by business partners, including Kwik Trip, since the state won’t own or operate any of the charging stations.

“We’re really excited to support a project with Culver’s in Rhinelander, a couple projects with Menards, and then projects with small businesses, such as the Edgerton truck stop, so really excited for who we are partnering with.” Kaleb Vander Wiele with the WisDOT Division of Budget and Strategic Initiative said.

In November 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which designated $7.5 billion to build out a national network of electric vehicle charging stations.

Those charging stations will be built within one mile of a highway intersection or interstate exit along Wisconsin’s alternative fuel corridors.

According to the state’s Dept. of Transportation, there will be a focus on U.S. and state highways in the northern third of the state as more projects will resume around March when the weather is warmer.

“The Wisconsin perspective for this program is to deliver charging stations in rural areas, primarily to support tourism in those areas, and in areas with little to no electric vehicle charging, and under the program, we’re able to do that,” Vander Wiele said.

The chargers are among 53 projects that WisDOT awarded nearly $23 million for last year, out of a total of more than $78 million the state is expected to receive over the next five years.

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