Minnesota opens $41 million funding round to expand rural EV charging
MnDOT is targeting charging gaps in Greater Minnesota as the state's electric vehicle population surges.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has launched a $41.2 million funding round to expand the state's electric vehicle fast-charging network. The initiative aims to eliminate infrastructure gaps in rural areas to support a rapidly growing number of EV drivers.
According to MnDOT, the funding is part of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. This specific round of grants targets "Greater Minnesota," moving the state's strategy beyond the initial focus on major interstate corridors such as I-94, I-35, and I-90. Applications for the new charging sites are due by November 2.
Shifting focus to rural corridors
Previous NEVI funding rounds in Minnesota were restricted to the primary interstates. However, because the federal government has certified those specific corridors as fully built out, the state is now permitted to allocate remaining funds to other highways. This shift allows MnDOT to push the charging network into less-served regions where infrastructure has historically lagged behind urban centers.
Addressing range anxiety
The expansion comes at a time of significant growth for electric mobility in the region. Minnesota's registered EV population has seen a tenfold increase, growing from approximately 9,000 vehicles in 2018 to about 90,000 recently. This surge in adoption has increased the pressure to provide reliable power options outside of the Twin Cities metro area.
Nancy Daubenberger, MnDOT commissioner, stated that NEVI funding is used to further develop a fast-charging network and will go a long way toward reducing range anxiety for long-distance travel needs across the state. By placing chargers in rural gaps, the state hopes to make long-distance EV travel more viable for residents and tourists alike.
The road ahead
As the application window closes in November, the state will determine which sites best serve the remaining gaps in the network. While the primary interstate spines are now considered complete, the success of this phase will depend on the ability of grant recipients to deploy high-speed hardware in areas with potentially more challenging power grid constraints. Observers will be watching to see how quickly these rural sites move from the application phase to active operation.