Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Electric vehicle infrastructure

Electric vehicle infrastructure

Greater Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Community Program

We're seeking eligible organizations interested in electric vehicle (EV) charging sites. The Greater Minnesota EV Infrastructure Community Program identifies, designs, and constructs additional electric vehicle charging sites across Minnesota using funds secured under the federal Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Community Program. The EV program will select participants representing up to 42 sites (mostly level 2 chargers).

This is a two-phase program:

  • Phase 1: Preconstruction (now open)
    • Pre-application via the EV interest form: We'll use this information to help us understand the general interest in the program. We won't use it to select the program participants. 
    • Full application: We'll use the full application process to select the program participants.
  • Phase 2: Construction (summer 2027)

How Phase 1 of the program works

  • Our consultant will partner with program participants to assist with EV infrastructure work.
  • We'll cover 80% of the costs associated with the program through our current federal CFI grant.
  • As a program participant, you’ll be required to provide a 20% match to the consultant contract (estimate: $6,000-$12,000 per site but may vary) unless additional funding can be acquired by the State. 
  • The consultant will provide customized resources and technical assistance to meet your specific EV infrastructure needs proportionate to your 20% match contribution.
  • We'll ask you and the consultant to submit reports throughout project.
  • You'll need to complete Phase 1 to be eligible for Phase 2.

During Phase 1, our consultant will offer support to participants across five core areas:

  1. Project development and scoping
  2. Utility planning
  3. Installation planning
  4. Operational planning
  5. Environmental review and documentation

Eligibility

We're seeking applications from the following types of organizations:

  • Tribal nations
  • Municipalities
  • Public transit agencies
  • Electrical utilities
  • Regional planning and development organizations

Eligible project areas

We're seeking applications for project sites in Greater Minnesota. We also encourage locations specific to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) service area in northeastern Minnesota.

Not eligible project areas

Sites in the seven-county metro area:

  • Anoka County
  • Carver County
  • Dakota County
  • Hennepin County
  • Ramsey County
  • Scott County
  • Washington County

Phase 1 timeline

  • Feb. 10, 2026: Program information webinar
  • Feb. 28, 2026: Deadline to submit EV interest form
  • March 2026: Full application opens
  • April 30, 2026: Deadline to submit full application
  • May 2026: Program participants selected, and notifications sent by email
  • June 2026: Participants attend program launch meeting and begin work with consultant
  • July 2027: Deadline to completed projects
  • Summer 2027: Prepare for Phase 2 (pending funding)

Guidance

Pre-application process

Step 1: Develop a local team

You may want to begin to identify local champions (three to seven people) willing to lead conversations in the community regarding EV charging.

Ideal team
  • At least one planning, zoning, or community professional able to assist with permitting, zoning, or other site approvals
  • Others to consider:
    • People with connections to the site
    • People with connections to support community amenities
    • People with connections to attractions, or local business interests
    • Grassroots volunteers
    • Environmental stewards
    • Communications experts
    • Representatives from the local utility company

Step 2: Gather data for each potential EV site in your region

Gather information about your potential project site, including its location and specific site characteristics.

Step 3: Tell us your idea

After you share your idea

  • We'll open our full application in March 2026.

Additional information

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure funded by MnDOT will focus on “shared mobility.” Defined as a form of mobility in which transportation services or resources are shared at the same time or independently of one another. Examples of shared mobility services that may need EV infrastructure include car share, van pools, ride hail and taxis, volunteer driver programs, mobility hubs, microtransit locations, etc.

Funding priority will be given to the following sites:

  • Multi-modal hubs and shared-use fleets/services: Locating shared mobility accessible EV charging infrastructure at or near public transit stops creates mobility hubs, expanding the reach of public transit with first mile/last mile connectivity. EV charging projects that include electrification of existing or planned new shared mobility services will receive priority for funding over other requests.
  • Rural area charging solutions: Lack of population density makes privately funded EV charging investment very difficult. At the same time the residents of these communities must drive longer distances to reach destinations like work, errands, and medical appointments. Rural communities, defined as cities, towns, and unincorporated areas less than 50,000 people, and Tribal Nations will be also a priority for EV charging station site selection. These communities are in greatest need of public funding support for EV charging infrastructure.
  • Urban/suburban area charging solutions: While shared use and rural area projects will have the top priority for project funding, small urban communities may receive funding for EV charging infrastructure at or near multi-family housing that predominantly serves low income and historically underserved populations.

If these opportunities do not fit your interests, consider connecting to our National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, or EV fast charging stations supported by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13.03, subd. 1, all government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, or temporary classification pursuant to section 13.06, or federal law, as nonpublic or protected nonpublic, or with respect to data on individuals, as private or confidential. The responsible authority in every government entity shall keep records containing government data in such an arrangement and condition as to make them easily accessible for convenient use. Photographic, photostatic, microphotographic, or microfilmed records shall be considered as accessible for convenient use regardless of the size of such records.