Wisconsin expands EV network with 26 fast chargers backed by $14 million

Governor awards 14M for 26 chargers

On November 17, 2025, Governor Tony Evers announced a significant funding package for electric car drivers. The state received $14 million in federal funding to construct 26 new fast-charging stations. This funding targets critical gaps along major interstate highways and aims to ensure reliable places for a power stop.

The selected sites include gas stations, hotels, and restaurants where people already stop during long trips. Across all funding rounds, Wisconsin has now awarded $36.4 million for a total of 78 projects to build up the network.

New network covers northern to southeast

To keep the network growing, this latest project covers travel corridors across Wisconsin, reaching from the northern forests to the southeastern cities. This broad geographic spread ensures that the over 37,000 registered electric car drivers can easily reach every part of the state.

Before this, significant coverage gaps existed between distant cities, making long-distance travel difficult for families. The new network fills these crucial gaps along major routes, helping drivers reach their destination without worrying about running out of power.

Kwik Trip secures 11 sites for travelers

Part of filling those gaps involves working with familiar names, and the gas station chain Kwik Trip received the most significant number of grants in this round. They will build fast chargers at 11 specific locations across the state to help electric car owners.

Kwik Trip already operates successful chargers and is a well-known, trusted stop for Wisconsin drivers. Drivers like these stops because they offer amenities like food and clean bathrooms 24 hours a day, making charging feel normal.

Culver’s and chocolate shop join map

Besides the large chains, Travelers can now charge their devices at unique local businesses, in addition to gas stations. A Culver’s restaurant and a local chocolate shop both won grants to build new stations.

These unique locations allow a family to eat a hot meal or buy a special sweet treat while their car charges. The state chose these spots to make the waiting time feel shorter and more like a fun break. This approach also helps local businesses grow while providing a necessary power service.

Cold weather drops range over 40%

Providing power is especially important because Wisconsin drivers face freezing winters that significantly impact the performance of electric cars. When the temperature drops below freezing, a battery’s driving range can be reduced by over 40%.

This significant loss occurs because the vehicle must draw extra energy from the main battery to heat the cabin for passengers. The new charging stations are strategically placed along major corridors to specifically address this cold-weather issue, ensuring a safe trip.

Fast charging aids 800-volt car models

To keep drivers moving quickly, the new 150-kilowatt chargers are a significant improvement for modern electric cars with advanced batteries. Vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Porsche Taycan utilize advanced 800-volt systems for speedy charging.

These new 150-kilowatt stations are significantly faster than older 50-kilowatt stations, which typically take over an hour to charge. While ultra-fast charging requires a 350-kilowatt station, the new grant winners still allow these advanced car models to spend less time parked.

Ford Lightning trucks need frequent stops

Along with faster charging, the network must support all types of vehicles, and electric trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning have different power needs than smaller cars.

When towing a 5,000-pound trailer, the truck’s range often drops to about half of its normal range. For example, a vehicle that typically drives 300 miles might only go 150 miles when towing a heavy boat. The updated charging map helps these heavy users by providing frequent stops for safe travel.

Tesla and operators win project awards

Helping to provide these frequent stops, major private charging companies, such as Tesla, also won grants alongside other businesses and convenience store chains. This mix of companies ensures that the new network serves a diverse range of drivers and vehicles.

A federal rule requires that all grant-funded sites adhere to open-access standards. This means that any car with a common plug can charge at these new locations, creating a much stronger public charging system for everyone to use.

Tourists bring cars from Illinois

Beyond local drivers, the updated charging network also helps visitors from other states. Each summer, many tourists drive their electric cars from Illinois and Minnesota to visit popular Wisconsin vacation areas.

A driver coming from Chicago needs reliable power to reach destinations like Door County. The new stops ensure visitors can easily spend money at local businesses and hotels. Supporting these out-of-state cars helps the state’s important tourism economy grow.

Preconditioning warms batteries for speed

To save time for all drivers, modern electric cars have an innovative built-in feature called battery preconditioning. When a driver uses the car’s navigation to find a fast-charging station, the vehicle automatically warms its battery.

This warming process prepares the battery to accept the full 150 kilowatts of power right away. If the battery is cold, it may only charge at half speed for the first ten minutes. This innovative technology works with the new infrastructure to save drivers time.

Stations must work 97% of the time

A key part of saving time is reliability, and it is a top priority for the $14 million in federal funding. Federal rules stipulate that these new chargers must operate at a minimum of 97% uptime, a specific standard known as NEVI uptime.

This strict requirement means a station cannot be broken for more than a few days per year. Drivers of the over 37,000 electric cars in the state need to know the plug will work when they arrive, and the state will monitor these projects.

Are you curious if your next EV could charge without needing to plug in? See what experts say in Is wireless EV charging the future?

Sales target 60% electric by 2030

Ultimately, the expansion of the charging network supports big sales goals for the future of cars. Leading industry research projects that the global share of new vehicle sales could be over 60% electric by the year 2030.

To get ready for this, Wisconsin needs to have enough charging plugs for everyone. The latest awards are a key step toward this target, aligning with federal goals and helping the state prepare for a future with a greater number of electric cars.

Want to know why major store chains are rethinking their charging plans? Read more in Convenience store chains rethink EV charging investments.

Will more fast chargers make EV travel easier in your state as well? Share your thoughts below.

Read More From This Brand:

• How new fast-charging networks are changing the EV experience
• Why leaving your EV unattended while charging can be risky
• Porsche Cayenne Electric will offer 11 kW wireless home charging

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.