Grants to build electric vehicle charging infrastructure

A federally-funded fast charging electric vehicle station will be coming to Walworth County as part of the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program and plans to bolster the state’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, particular along Wisconsin’s fledgling Alternative Fuel Corridor.

Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), announced May 23 that 53 locations across the state will become the first federally-funded fast charging electric vehicle (EV) stations in Wisconsin funded through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

In total, to support these 53 projects, WisDOT awarded $23.3 million of the more than $78 million the state is expected to receive over the next five years.

In March, Evers signed Senate Bill 791 and Senate Bill 792, now 2023 Wisconsin Acts 121 and 122 respectively, enabling the WisDOT to receive and administer the more than $78 million in federal NEVI funds available to Wisconsin to bolster the state’s EV infrastructure.

“I’m proud we’ve made historic progress on our work to build the transportation infrastructure Wisconsin needs for a 21st-century workforce and economy,” Evers said. “This EV charging network will support drivers, businesses, tourists, and our economy and workforce as we move towards a cleaner, more sustainable, and more efficient future in Wisconsin. I’m incredible grateful for the collaboration with our federal, state, and private partners in support of this important work.”

“This is exactly why I was proud to help pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).  “We are putting Wisconsin to work making our transportation system safer, more efficient, and better equipped for the future. I fought hard to include strong Build America, Buy America standards when we build out the electric vehicle infrastructure because it should be American workers, using American products, taking us into the future. Today’s announcement means more convenient transportation options, more Wisconsinites being put to work, and a more sustainable environment for generations to come.”

The charging stations will be built along Wisconsin’s Alternative Fuel Corridor, reaching all corners of the state to support the more than 23,000 EVs registered in the state, as well as travelers and visitors.

“EVs are a part of the future of transportation, so we are prioritizing resources to make this sustainable option more accessible in our state,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson. “This is a robust plan that will support people no matter where they live or travel in Wisconsin. We’re looking forward to a time when EV drivers don’t have to worry about where to find their next charge.”

WisDOT awarded the $23.3 million to support private industry construction of charging stations across Wisconsin, after receiving more than 260 applications during the first round Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) program. 

WisDOT released its RFP in January, and the application window closed on April 1.

The total cost for the 53 awarded projects is estimated at $33.8 million, including the $23.3 million in federal funds secured through the BIL and $10.5 million in private financing. The program requires applicants to provide at least a 20% match to federal funds.

The selected applicants include fuel retailers, hotels, and restaurants. Two Tribal Nations will receive more than $800,000 in funding and 13 selected sites will be installed in disadvantaged communities. Wisconsin is the first state to award NEVI funds to a Tribal Nation. WisDOT anticipates construction may begin at some locations as early as late summer. 

WisDOT considered a number of factors when choosing these projects, including the potential for future development, availability of pull-through parking spaces to allow for possible expansion to larger EVs, and extended business site hours to accommodate longer refueling times.

Wisconsin will receive $78.65 million over five years under the NEVI Program. WisDOT is evaluating opportunities to invest the remaining $55 million in EV infrastructure projects across Wisconsin.

Among the 53 awarded first round recipients of federal grant funding in support of the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Intrastructue program is Kwik Trip No. 1046 at 408 S. Wright St. in Delavan, just off State Hwy. 50 (East Geneva Street) and I-43 in Walworth County.

“Kwik Trip is very excited to partner with the DOT,” said Kwik Trip, Inc. Public Relations Specialist Ben Leibl. “For us, we’ve been looking for a way to bring EV charging to our guests. We sell fossil fuels, but we understand that there’s a different customer base that this could certainly bring to us … We see this as an opportunity for us to open our doors to a new customer base — give folks who don’t know Kwik Trip and don’t know our stores an opportunity to charge their cars and also offer them our clean restrooms, our hot food offerings, a place to buy their snacks and drinks, a place for them to stretch their legs. 

The EV infrastructure project at the Delavan Kwik Trip is funded by a $505,136 federal share and a $226,953 match share.

“We looked at a lot of sites about where we want to put these fast chargers,” Leible said of Kwik Trip. “The DOT had certain guidelines, different parameters that they had … We felt that Store 1046 in Delavan was going to be a good location for us … We’re very excited that Store 1046 was chosen and we’re excited to see what happens once those fast chargers are installed.

Opened in July 2020, the Delavan Kwik Trip is one of 24 Wisconsin stores operated by the La Crosse-based convenience store chain to receive first round federal funding in support of the WEVI program, including Kwik Trips in Plover (I-39); Richfield, Fond du Lac and Oshkosh (I-41); La Crosse and Baraboo (I-90); Menomonie, Hixton, Pleasant Prairie and Pewaukee (I-94); Crivitz (U.S. Hwy. 141); Mount Horeb and Beaver Dam (U.S. Hwy. 151); Ashland (U.S. Hwy. 2); Marinette (U.S. Hwy. 41); Wausau (U.S. Hwy. 51); Eau Claire (U.S. Hwy 53); Saint Croix Falls and Cameron (U.S. Hwy. 8); and Chippewa Falls, Abbotsford, Bonduel and Green Bay (State Hwy. 29).

“…We’re looking for alternative ways for people to ‘get fuel,’ in this case to  charge your car,” Leible said. “We want to thank the DOT and highlight their work with this. It’s a very important partnership. We’re very exited to be onboard and make this happen.”

Founded in Eau Claire in 1965, Kwik Trip operates 877 locations under the Kwik Trip banner in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, and the Kwik Star banner in Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota.