Electric Vehicles in WI

Hybrid Vehicles

Currently, available hybrid vehicles run on both electricity and gasoline. Two kinds of hybrid vehicles exist: plug-in hybrids and hybrid vehicles. Plug in hybrids (PHEV) first run on battery power, and gasoline second. Hybrid vehicles run first on gasoline and then on electricity second. Both offer some benefits of fully electric vehicles including reduced tailpipe emissions and energy efficiency.

Medium- and Heavy-duty Electric Vehicles

In addition to EV passenger vehicles (light-duty vehicles), market demand for medium- and heavy-duty EVs is growing. Communities are turning to electric as an option for their bus fleets, replacing diesel counterparts. Truck fleets are also considering more electric options as viable alternative fuel sources for their fleets. The transition of medium- and heavy-duty fleets to electric vehicles would potentially offer numerous benefits including reduced tailpipe emissions. Medium- and heavy-duty fleet conversions can include additional challenges such as cost, availability, and long-distance battery range.

Wisconsin's existing Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) network is primarily privately owned. To see where EVCS are currently located, refer to the WisDOT Alternative Fuels webpage or the U.S. Department of Energy EVCS locator.

EV Charging

There are three levels of EV chargers.

Level 1 Charger

Level 2 Charger

Level 3/DC Fast Charger

Battery charge time is primarily influenced by type of battery and level of remaining charge.

Two connectors for EVs are now receiving much attention: the CCS, or Combined Charging System, and the North American Charging Standard (NACS). CCS is a connector that can supply between 25 kW and 350 kW of power and charge an EV in under one hour. The NACS connector is an alternative to the CCS. It is smaller and lighter than the CCS, delivering up to 250 kW of power, and can recharge an EV battery in under an hour. Most automakers have announced the integration of the NACS charge port in their future EV production. Due to this changing dynamic in the electric vehicle industry, WisDOT gave extra consideration to NACS connectors when evaluating proposals submitted as part of the first round Request for Proposals (RFP) under the WEVI Program. As a result, 46 of the 53 first round-awarded locations under the WEVI program will include NACS connectors alongside the required minimum CCS connectors.

 

CCS Connector (Combined Charging System)

NACS Connector (North American Charging Standard)

Currently, locations and placement of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) are determined by private businesses and landowners. Local governments are adding charging infrastructure to promote economic development and tourism within their communities.

For EV charging stations installed through the WEVI Plan, federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program funds are granted to private entities to install and operate EV fast charger systems along designated corridors. Chapter 4 of the WEVI Plan details Wisconsin's approach to preferred EVSE placement along designated AFCs. This placement is specific to the WEVI Plan and does not impact privately funded EVSE.

As the build-out of designated AFCs are certified as complete by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, other Wisconsin transportation corridors may be included for WEVI Plan funds.​

​​​Wisconsin Vehicle Registrations

Wisconsin’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) generates vehicle registration reports, that include the total number of vehicles by fuel type. Until 2024, WisDOT used Report 25 solely, generated on a calendar-year and fiscal-year basis. In May 2024, WisDOT began using an additional methodology that updates these counts more frequently.

In 2017, 1,726 EVs were registered in Wisconsin. By the end of 2025, that number had surpassed 38,000. The graph below shows the number of EVs registered in Wisconsin over time.

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National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program

In November 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed, designating $7.5 billion to building out a national network of electric vehicle charging stations. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program lays the groundwork for formula funding designation and use.

NEVI is specifically intended to build out the electric vehicle charging system along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). Currently, in Wisconsin these include five Interstates: I-90, I-94, I-43, I-41, and I-535; seven U.S. highways: US 53, US 151, parts of US 51, US 2 and US 141, and all of US 8 and US 41; one state highway: WIS 29.

The NEVI program requires funds to be invested within one travel mile of designated AFCs, with charging stations no more than 50 miles apart. Once the state's AFCs are fully built out, as determined by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Wisconsin will have additional flexibility in determining the type and location of additional EV charging infrastructure installed, operated and maintained under the NEVI program.

Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program

The Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program is a competitive grant program that distributes NEVI Formula Program funds to eligible entities for the installation, ownership, operation, and maintenance of NEVI-compliant EV charging stations throughout the state. This program involves up to 80% federal funding and at least 20% non-federal matching on each project. The non-federal funds are expected to come from grant applicants.

Wisconsin is required to submit an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) annually. The plan outlines how the state will utilize funds distributed under the NEVI program. Approval from FHWA is necessary before the state can obligate NEVI program funds. The 2022 WEVI Plan and 2023 Plan updates were approved by FHWA. The 2022 Plan and the updates for 2023 and 2024 can be accessed below and the 2025 Plan is displayed at the top of the page.

• 2022 Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan: This is the original plan outlining how Wisconsin will utilize funds distributed under the NEVI Program.
• 2023 Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan Update
  
• 2024 Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan Update: This edition updates information on how Wisconsin will utilize funds from the NEVI Program following WisDOT's first Request for Proposals.
  

On January 2, 2024 WisDOT released its WEVI Round 1 Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit applications for public fast-charging sites along the state's AFCs. The deadline to submit proposals for consideration under the Round 1 RFP was April 1, 2024.

As part of the RFP, WisDOT identified a maximum of 65 EV charging sites along EV AFCs needed to fully build out the interstates and AFCs to meet federal NEVI Program requirements.

On May 23, 2024 WisDOT announced conditional grand awards for 53 projects. The awards totaled approximately $23.3 million in NEVI funding. WisDOT also announced 26 additional projects awarded through Round 1.5 of the program in October 2025, totaling $14 million. Wisconsin is eligible to receive approximately $78 million in NEVI formula funds over five years beginning in federal fiscal year 2023.

Wisconsin's Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The department's goal is to provide leadership in adapting the state's transportation infrastructure to provide seamless short- and long-distance EV travel in Wisconsin. The department will work to develop preferred statutory and regulatory framework for transportation electrification. Efforts will focus on continued stakeholder collaboration, equity of integration across the state including urban, rural, suburban areas, and historically underserved communities as well as adapting the state's transportation infrastructure to advance electrified transportation.

Key to meeting these goals is:

• Education, outreach, and collaboration: Collaborating with and listening to internal and external stakeholders including government, industry, and the traveling public.
• Stewardship: Focus on strategic investments to maximize available funding and meet state needs.
• Data-Driven Approach: Applying a data-driven approach to electrification deployment statewide.

The following timeline summarizes the WEVI Plan process.

On May 26, 2026, WisDOT released its WEVI Connecting Corridors Request for Proposals (RFP) document and the WEVI Connecting Corridors submission packet. These documents contain all of the necessary information for interested applicants to apply to the Connecting Corridors portion of the WEVI Program. The Connecting Corridors documents can be accessed below. A fillable version of the submission packet will be available soon.

All applications must be submitted by July 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.​

This RFP is final. WisDOT reserves the right to modify the RFP document and awarding process. To fully utilize the fillable features of this proposal packet, please download the submission package and open in Adobe Acrobat.

The WEVI Connecting Corridors RFP is the first round of the WEVI Program funding to deploy EV charging stations on additional corridors outside of Wisconsin’s designated AFCs. The Evaluation Zones and Priority Locations Interactive Map (coming soon) provides information for potential applicants on the evaluation zones that WisDOT is looking to fill in WEVI Connecting Corridors RFP. 

Questions and Answers (Q&A) Document

WisDOT is offering one comment period for prospective applicants to receive clarity on elements of the WEVI Connecting Corridors RFP. This comment period closes on June 14, 2026 . Responses to the comment period will be compiled into a Q&A document and will be updated following the comment period deadline. The Q&A documents from Round 1 and Round 1.5 of the WEVI Program are available in their associated tabs below as a resource for applicants.

Informational Public Webinar

WisDOT will host a webinar regarding the WEVI Connecting Corridors RFP on Tuesday, June 9th, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. During the webinar, WisDOT will review the Connecting Corridors RFP, provide instructions to proposers regarding the RFP application process, and answer program and technical questions.

Information on how to access the webinar will be provided closer to the webinar date.

Any questions asked in the webinar regarding the WEVI Connecting Corridors RFP can be found in the Q&A Document following the webinar date.

Federal Requirements

The WEVI Program is subject to specific federal requirements. Proposers are required to complete a checklist affirming that the projects and site will comply with the requirements outlined in 23 CFR 680 and applicable laws and terms and conditions outlined on pages 31-34 and Appendix B of the WEVI RFP. These requirements are listed below or in Section 5.2 of the 2024 WEVI Plan Update.

Federal Law Compliance:

Applicants must also be compliant with applicable Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Transportation codes. For additional information, visit the tab below for links to WisDOT, state and federal resources. 

The WEVI Round 1.5 Request for Proposals (RFP) was originally released on October 14, 2024. Due to the rescission of NEVI Formula Program Guidance and previously approved state electric vehicle infrastructure plans (including Wisconsin’s plan approved on November 15, 2024, that was applicable during that time) on February 6, 2025, Round 1.5 was paused until a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the release of NEVI funding on June 24, 2025.

With the federal pause on NEVI funding lifted, the State of Wisconsin resumed accepting applications under the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Round 1.5 until its deadline of September 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. CT. Consequently, the WEVI Round 1.5 Request for Proposals (RFP) document and the Round 1.5 Submission Packet were revised and reissued. These documents contained all the information needed for interested applicants to apply to Round 1.5 of the WEVI Program. Click here to access the final Round 1.5 RFP document. The Round 1.5 Submission Packet can be found here.

Round 1.5 of the WEVI Program focused on building out the remaining gaps in Wisconsin's Alternative Fuel Corridor system to achieve fully built out status. The Evaluation Zones and Priority Locations Interactive Map provided information for potential applicants on the 13 evaluation zones that WisDOT was looking to fill in Round 1.5.

WisDOT also considered project applications that met the program's requirements, even if they were not located in the specified evaluation zones but were situated along one of the state’s Alternative Fuel Corridors.

Round 1.5 of the WEVI Program focuses on building out the remaining gaps in Wisconsin's Alternative Fuel Corridor system to achieve fully-built out status. The Evaluation Zones and Priority Locations Interactive Map provided information for potential applicants on the 13 coverage gaps that WisDOT was looking to fill in Round 1.5.

WisDOT also considered project applications that met the program's requirements, even if they were not located in the specified evaluation zones but were situated along one of the state’s Alternative Fuel Corridors.

Questions and Answers (Q&A) Document

WisDOT offered two comment periods after the initial release of the WEVI Round 1.5 RFP for prospective applicants to receive clarity on elements of the program. Responses to those comments have been compiled into a Questions & Answers (Q&A) document. This Q&A document has been updated to reflect the revised and reissued WEVI Round 1.5 RFP and the associated submission packet. 

Informational Public Webinar

WisDOT hosted a webinar regarding Round 1.5 of the WEVI Program and RFP on Thursday, November 7th, 2024, at 1:00 pm Central Time. During the webinar, WisDOT reviewed the Round 1.5 RFP, provided instructions to proposers regarding the RFP application process and answered program and technical questions.

A recording of the webinar can be accessed here. Slides from the webinar can be found here.

Any questions asked in the webinar regarding the WEVI Round 1.5 Request for Proposals can be found in the Q&A Document.

Round 1.5 Results

Twenty-six locations have been awarded approximately $14 million in federal funds through Round 1.5 of the WEVI Program. A map of the awarded locations and the related news release can be accessed below.

Of the 26 site locations, 7 are situated in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, 5 in the Southeast Region, 4 in the North Central Region, and 3 in the Northeast Region. Round 1.5 of the WEVI Program continues its Round 1 goal of prioritizing an equitable distribution throughout the state.
The 26 selected sites feature various elements to ensure a satisfactory charging experience. While the NEVI Program requires a minimum of four CCS connectors at each station, 25 of the selected sites also include NACS connectors in addition to their CCS connectors. The NEVI Program requirements also requires a minimum of 150 kW per port, with each station hosting at least four ports. Over 23% of awarded locations exceed the minimum port requirement of 150 kW. Additionally, 88% of the Round 1.5 WEVI sites indicate that future expansion of the charging stations is possible.

Some additional amenities at these sites include pull-through parking at 20 locations, while 22 of the Round 1.5 WEVI sites have adjacent businesses open 24/7.

WEVI charging stations utilize various charging station models, including Autel, Gilbarco, SK Signet, Tellus Power Green, Tesla, Tritium, and ZEF Energy.

If you have any questions regarding the awarded locations selected in this round of funding, please refer to the WEVI Round 1.5 Awarded Locations Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.

The WEVI Round 1 Request for Proposals (RFP) was released on January 2, 2024. Click here to see the final RFP document.
On January 12, 2024, WisDOT issued its Round 1 proposal packet for applicants interested in applying to the first round of the WEVI Program. This packet contains the necessary materials and instructions for submitting a complete Round 1 WEVI application and can be accessed here. The proposal packet was updated on February 29, 2024, with minor changes listed on page 1A of the document. The deadline to submit completed applications was April 1, 2024. Applications submitted after this deadline were not considered.

WisDOT created an interactive map for the public to identify and comment on eligible areas for deployment of EV charging equipment. This easy-to-use map gave the opportunity to comment on specific sites, provide general feedback and include contact details if a WisDOT response is desired.

Questions and Answers (Q&A) Document

The first round of comments closed on January 29, 2024. The second round of comments closed on March 7, 2024. Responses to the Round 1 comments and questions have been compiled in a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document which can be accessed here.

Informational Public Webinar

WisDOT hosted a webinar regarding the WEVI Program and RFP on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024. During the webinar, WisDOT reviewed the Round 1 RFP, provided instructions to proposers regarding the RFP application process, and answered program and technical questions.

A recording of the webinar can be found here. Presentation slides from the webinar can be accessed in PDF form here.

Any questions asked in the webinar regarding the WEVI Round 1 Request for Proposals can be found in the Q&A Document.

Round 1 Results

Fifty-two locations have been awarded over $23.3 million in federal funds through Round 1 of the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program. These sites are dispersed across the state, assisting WisDOT in building out its EV Alternative Fuel Corridor (AFC) system. A map of the awards and the press release can be accessed below.

WEVI Round 1 Award Frequently Asked Questions

WEVI Round 1 Awarded Locations

Of the 52 site locations, seven are in the Southeast Region, 10 in the Southwest Region, 11 in the North Central and Northeast Regions, and 13 in the Northwest Region. Round 1 of the WEVI Program prioritized an equitable distribution throughout the state. A total of 16 locations selected through Round 1 are located in federally recognized disadvantaged communities, with two of these locations being awarded to Tribal applicants. Wisconsin is the first and only state, as of September, 2025, to award NEVI funds to a Tribal organization.

The 52 selected sites incorporate many different features to ensure a satisfactory charging experience. While the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program requires a minimum of four CCS connectors at each station, 45 of the selected sites include NACS connectors in addition to its CCS connectors. The NEVI Program requirements also outline a 150 kW minimum per port, with each station hosting at least four ports. Almost 20% of awarded locations have port minimums greater than the 150 kW requirement. Additionally, 88% of the Round 1 WEVI sites indicate that future expansion of the charging station is possible.

Some additional amenities at these sites include pull-through parking at 39 locations and an overhead canopy at 18 separate locations. Forty-one of the fifty-two WEVI locations have nearby businesses open at least 18 hours a day, while thirty-nine of these sites have adjacent businesses open 24/7.

WEVI charging stations use many different charging station models, including Aliptronic America, ChargePoint, Gilbarco, Jule, Kempower, Red E Charge, SK Signet, Tellus Power Green, and Tesla.

If you have any questions regarding the awarded locations selected in this round of funding, please see the WEVI Round 1 Awarded Locations Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.

23 CFR 680.116 Data

WisDOT must ensure that specific data fields are made available at no cost to third-party software developers, as described in 23 CFR 680.116(c).

Access this information here.

WisDOT has created the WEVI Charging Station Dashboard to display the sites awarded through the WEVI Program, which are Level 3 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations. It features interactive elements that provide metrics and information for each location.

The data presented in this tool is based on Round 1of the WEVI Program. Please note that this dashboard does not reflect the real time operational status of each station. For a comprehensive list of charging stations in Wisconsin and their operational status, please refer to the Alternative Fuels Data Center Station Locator Tool.

WisDOT will periodically update this tool to show the status of each WEVI station. As future projects are awarded under the WEVI Program, this tool will be updated to show those locations.

WisDOT has established the following five objectives for public engagement related to the WEVI Program: 

1. Identify and involve key stakeholder groups in the plan’s development.
2. Engage the public on preferred locations for electric vehicle charging station locations, charging preferences, costs, and future of EV use.
3. Engage stakeholders to ensure that EV charging infrastructure is distributed equitably and fairly.
4. Ensure public participation opportunities are provided to facilitate an inclusive audience and accessibility.
5. Provide s ongoing public input opportunities throughout the five-year EVSE infrastructure deployments

Below is a list of stakeholder outreach activities related to the WEVI Program:

• Ongoing stakeholder communication and public input including public presentations, group or one-on-one stakeholder meetings, and email responses to inquiries.
• As detailed in the WEVI 2023 plan update, conducted a gap analysis to identify which stakeholder industries and categories were not fully engaged during the development of the WEVI 2022 plan. This gap analysis helped guide engagement efforts for the remainder of the year.
• Revised and updated WEVI Plan documents and submitted them to FHWA for approval.
• Developed program implementation options as well as WEVI RFP materials and procedures in accordance with NEVI Program rules issued by the Federal Highway Administration.
  
• Conducted stakeholder webinars to address questions about the WEVI Program Round 1 and Round 1.5 RFPs.
• Published Questions & Answers documents to address questions regarding the WEVI Program and the RFPs and Submission Packages.
• Awarded over $36.3 million in federal funds to 78 locations and is the only state as of April 9, 2026, to award funds to a Tribal organization.
• Conducted architectural, construction, and environmental reviews necessary to begin building EV charging stations under the WEVI Program.
• Began construction of EV charging stations.
• Created an interactive public-facing dashboard to provide updates on WEVI-awarded charging stations. The dashboard can be accessed here. More details on this tool can be found in the “WEVI Charging Station Dashboard” tab. 

If you have any questions or comments, please submit them through one of the following options.

If you would like to email your comments, please direct them to:
transportationelectrification@dot.wi.gov

If you would like to mail your comments, please direct them to:
Transportation Electrification
WisDOT Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives
P.O. Box 7910
Madison, Wi 53707-7910