Wisconsin awarded $25 million in NEVI funds to build 42 new EV fast-charging sites statewide, requiring at least four 150 kW CCS ports per location (a minimum of 168 ports). Sites will be placed at hotels, stores and travel hubs, with equipment from suppliers including Tesla, Autel and Gilbarco. Having met NEVI’s 50-mile spacing requirement, the state can now direct federal funds to secondary roads and state highways, expanding charging access beyond interstates.
Wisconsin Awards $25M to Build 42 Fast-Charging EV Sites, Adding At Least 168 CCS Ports
Photo Credit: Kwik Trip
Wisconsin has approved $25 million in federal NEVI funding to develop 42 new electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging locations across the state, expanding charging access beyond interstate corridors and into communities such as Eagle River, Sturgeon Bay, Viroqua and Prairie du Chien, according to Electrek.
What the Funding Requires
The grants come from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Each awarded site must include at least four CCS ports capable of delivering 150 kilowatts simultaneously — a minimum of 168 new fast-charging ports for Wisconsin in this round.
Where Stations Will Be Located
Planned sites are aimed at everyday destinations where drivers can shop, eat or run errands while charging. Expected locations include hotels, gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and convenience stores. Named sites include a Woodman’s grocery store in Madison; hotels in Boscobel, Dodgeville, Eagle River, Oconomowoc, Richland Center and Watertown; and Kwik Trip locations in Belgium, Coloma, Prairie du Chien, River Falls, Sturgeon Bay and Whitewater.
Equipment, Standards and Connectivity
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) said awarded sites will feature equipment from suppliers including Tesla, Autel and Gilbarco. The department has not specified how many new stations will include NACS connectors, even though roughly 93% of chargers currently online use that standard.
Strategic Impact
Wisconsin has satisfied NEVI’s corridor-spacing requirement, which mandates that funded stations be no more than 50 miles apart along the state’s designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. Meeting that benchmark allows the state to redirect additional NEVI dollars to secondary roads and state highways that were previously ineligible, enabling charging infrastructure to expand onto heavily traveled routes and more routine driving corridors.
Funding Picture And Progress
So far, WisDOT has committed $62.1 million in NEVI funding to support 120 charging sites statewide. NEVI grants can cover up to 80% of eligible project costs, with awardees responsible for at least the remaining 20%. To date, Wisconsin’s NEVI awards have produced 26 operational stations.
WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said, "From the start, we've planned an EV charging station network that will benefit both EV drivers and Wisconsin communities. The stations provide fast charging at convenient locations where drivers can also take care of other errands while charging up."
By expanding fast charging beyond the interstate map and into local commercial and travel routes, Wisconsin’s latest awards should make EV ownership and road trips more practical for more drivers and could serve as a model for similar state-level deployments.
Related Coverage
- Wisconsin launched a $40 million push to add chargers along major highway corridors.
- New NEVI-backed fast-charging stations with traveler amenities are coming online across rural Wisconsin.
- Regional efforts such as PowerUp America are accelerating fast-charging growth in the Southeast.
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