MnDOT invests new money in EV charging network

More than $41 million is available to expand Minnesota’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.

MnDOT's third, and largest, round of investments through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program includes up to $41.2 million in federally funded grants focusing on expanding fast-charging infrastructure in Greater Minnesota.  

In Minnesota, EV ownership grew by 1,000 percent – from about 9,000 to 90,000 – since 2018.  

To date, MnDOT has released two rounds of EV charging funding totaling more than $16 million, supporting 24 fast-charging sites through a combination of federal, state and private investment along I-94, I-35, and I-90. The funds for round three are a combination of 80% Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) dollars and a 20% investment by each grantee. Eight NEVI-funded stations are currently open.