MnDOT Funds 40 EV Fast-Charging Sites With $41M — SkimNews
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- Minnesota Department of Transportation is making $41.2 million available in its third and largest round of federal NEVI funding, explicitly targeting fast-charging gaps in Greater Minnesota beyond I-35, I-90, and I-94.
- Up to 40 new EV fast-charging sites will be funded across 74 eligible areas, with only one station selected per area; the federal government recently certified the three interstates as fully built out, freeing remaining funds for other highways.
- Minnesota's registered EV population has grown tenfold since 2018 — from roughly 9,000 vehicles to about 90,000 — underscoring why MnDOT says the expansion will cut range anxiety for long-distance trips.
- Funded sites must include at least four NACS connectors and four CCS1 connectors, with every port capable of delivering 150 kW simultaneously, plus ADA-compliant spaces, lighting, and security cameras or on-site staff.
- Minnesota's weather dictates unusual operational rules: operators must clear snow within two hours of a storm's end whenever accumulation tops 1 inch, and sites must be open during the host business's full operating hours.
- Federal NEVI funds cover 80% of each project's eligible costs, with grant recipients paying the remaining 20%; applications are due by 4 p.m. on November 2, with conditional awards expected in late December 2026 or January 2027.
- MnDOT's first two NEVI rounds awarded more than $16 million for 24 sites along the three interstates; as of August 6, eight were open and the rest were in preconstruction or under construction.
Why it matters: With registered EVs up tenfold since 2018 to roughly 90,000, Minnesota's charging network had been capped at three interstates — leaving rural counties underserved. This round pushes federal dollars into Greater Minnesota for the first time, though developers must shoulder 20% of costs, hit simultaneous 150 kW on eight connectors, and clear snow within two hours of a 1-inch accumulation.
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