Minnesota defies NEVI freeze with $10M EV charger expansion

Minnesota just locked in a dozen new DC fast charging station sites along Interstates 90 and 94, defying Donald Trump’s suspension of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the 12 new sites this week, backed by nearly $10 million in combined federal and state funding. About $4.5 million comes from the NEVI program, part of the Biden administration’s 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Another $4.7 million will come directly from the state.

This is Minnesota’s second round of NEVI funding; the state announced the first NEVI funding round in July 2024. And while the Trump administration recently shut down the NEVI program nationwide, MnDOT says it’s pushing forward with its EV charging buildout.

“While we were disappointed to learn the Trump administration has chosen to suspend this program, this second round of grants demonstrates we are honoring our commitments and continue to evaluate all options for continuing this important work,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger.

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The 12 new charging sites will be located at:

• Energy Hunters Minnesota – Barnesville
• Francis Energy Charging – Fergus Falls
• Love’s Travel Stops – Rockville
• Kwik Trip – Lake Elmo
• Francis Energy Charging – Luverne
• Kwik Trip – Worthington
• Francis Energy Charging – Jackson
• Francis Energy Charging – Blue Earth
• Kwik Trip – Albert Lea
• Kwik Trip – Austin
• Kwik Trip – Stewartville
• Love’s Travel Stops – St. Charles

All 12 stations are being placed along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. That means each location is within a mile of an interstate exit and spaced no more than 50 miles apart. They’ll each have at least four 150 kW DC fast chargers that run simultaneously, and they’ll be open to the public 24/7 without an entrance fee and be sited next to well-lit amenities such as restrooms, food, and beverages.

This will bring Minnesota’s NEVI-funded charging station sites to 24. MnDOT says it’s continuing to explore ways to expand the state’s EV infrastructure.

Read more: US DC fast charging network surges past 55K ports – and it’s getting more reliable

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