Electrification of Wisconsin

EVs are designed to run on electricity generated through an EV battery, eliminating the need for gasoline. They are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, require less maintenance than internal combustion engines (ICE) and run quietly.

Most EVs are able to travel more than 150 miles on a single charge and some can travel 200 to 300 miles or more. A number of factors impact range of battery charge including battery type and ambient temperature as cold weather greatly decreases range. EV battery design efforts continue to create more efficient options for consumers, allowing more miles per charge and faster charging than ever before.

According to respected national research firms, EVs are expected to comprise over half of all passenger vehicles sold in the United States by 2040, increasing the need for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) across the state. The Wisconsin DMV reports that in calendar year 2022, 8,158 electric passenger vehicles in addition to electric cycles and autocycles were registered in the state. An additional 5,573 electric trucks were registered totaling 13,731 total registered electric vehicles.

Hybrid Vehicles

Currently, available hybrid vehicles run on both electricity and gasoline. There are two kinds of hybrid vehicles, 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 full 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 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.

There are three levels of EV chargers.

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 kWh and 350 kWh 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 kWh 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. Given the recent industry focus on the NACS connector, WisDOT is evaluating options to support NACS connectors alongside required CCS connectors at future NEVI-supported charging stations.

Currently, locations and placement of 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, it is anticipated that federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program funds will be made available to local governments and private entities, working collaboratively 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, providing services in rural and underserved areas of the state.

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 2022 Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Plan was approved on September 14, 2022. As required by NEVI guidelines, an updated plan for 2023 was submitted to FHWA. FHWA approved the update on September 29, 2023. Wisconsin is eligible to receive approximately $78 million in NEVI formula funds over five years beginning in federal fiscal year 2023.

Initial guidance for NEVI Program was received from FWHA in February of 2022, and in February of 2023, the final rule that set standards and requirements for projects under the Program was received. WisDOT is now reviewing all available application and contracting mechanisms and approaches to meet federal requirements for funding EV-related projects.

We are pleased to announce that the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (WEVI) Program 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 proposal packet for applicants interested in the WEVI Program. The packet contains the necessary materials and instructions for submitting a complete WEVI application and can be accessed here. The proposal packet has been updated as of February 29, 2024, with minor changes that are listed on page 1A of the document. When submitting a proposal, WEVI applicants are not required to utilize the latest version of the proposal packet. Completed applications should be sent to wevirfpsubmission@dot.wi.gov by April 1, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered. Please note the naming conventions required for submittal which can be found in the proposal packet. To fully utilize the fillable features of this proposal packet, please download the document and open in Adobe Acrobat Pro.

If you have any issues affixing the needed signatures to the documents in the RFP Submission Package, the department will accept an application with only a signature at the bottom of page 3, “PROPOSER ACKNOWLEDGMENT.” However, if you are not the property owner of the station project site, you must also have the property owner sign page 9 of the submission package under PROPERTY OWNER (HOST) OF SITE OF PROPOSED EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.

If you use the DESIGNATION OF CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION form on page 5 of the RFP Submission Package, please use the site address of the proposed station project when filling in the blank following the term “Bid/Proposal #."

RFP submissions should be sent to WEVIRFPsubmission@dot.wi.gov.

This RFP is final. WisDOT reserves the right to modify the RFP document and awarding process.

If the WEVI program does not meet your needs or interests, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has designated $2.5 billion in funding outside of the NEVI Program for EV charging stations. These opportunities include the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program and the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit.

Questions and Answers (Q&A) Document

The first round of comments closed on January 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. The second round of comments closed on March 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Responses to these comments and questions have been compiled in a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document which can be accessed here.

This document has been updated with comments received during the second comment period. With the deadline to submit technical questions having passed, WisDOT does not intend to release another version of the Questions and Answers document.

Informational Public Webinar Information

WisDOT hosted a webinar regarding the WEVI Program and RFP on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024 from 1:00-2:00 pm Central Time. During the webinar, WisDOT covered the Request for Proposals (RFP) provided instructions to proposers regarding the RFP application process and answered program and technical questions.

If you could not attend the webinar, a recording 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 Questions and Answers Document.

Federal Requirements

The WEVI Program is subject to specific federal requirements. Proposers will be 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 11-13 and Appendix B of the WEVI RFP. These requirements are listed below or in Section 5.2 of the WEVI Plan Update.

Federal Law Compliance:

• 23 U.S.C.
• 2 CFR 200
• FHWA-1273
• Buy America and Build America
• Davis Bacon Federal Wage Rate
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act

Applicants must also be compliant with applicable Wisconsin Statues and Administrative Transportation codes.

For additional information, visit the tab below for links to WisDOT, state and federal resources.

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.

WisDOT is collaborating on transportation electrification with key stakeholders such as utilities, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning commissions, labor and workforce, freight and logistics companies, and many others, including ongoing opportunities for public input. The department has established the following five objectives for public engagement:

1. Identify and involve key stakeholder groups in the plan’s development
2. Engage the public on preferred electric vehicle charging station locations, charging preferences, costs and future use of EVs
3. Engage stakeholders to ensure EV charging infrastructure achieves equitable and fair distribution
4. Ensure public participation opportunities are performed to facilitate an inclusive audience and accessibility
5. Establish continuous public participation opportunities throughout the five-year EVSE infrastructure deployments

Below is a list of past and projected stakeholder outreach activities and key events regarding the WEVI Plan:

2023 Activities/Events:

• Ongoing stakeholder communication and public input participating in over ten public presentations and over 50 one-on-one stakeholder meetings
• As detailed in the WEVI 2023 plan update, conducted a gap analysis to determine which stakeholder industries and categories were not widely engaged during the development of the WEVI 2022 plan. This gap analysis helped guide engagement activities for the rest of the year.
• Development of program implementation options and WEVI application materials and procedures in accordance with NEVI Program rules issued by the Federal Highway Administration on February 15.
• Program monitored for reporting purposes and updating of WEVI Plan.

2022 Activities/Events:

March/April

• Meetings with planning partners, utilities, electric vehicle charging companies and labor and workforce representatives

May

• Meetings with planning partners such as local governments, RPCs, etc.
• Stakeholder webinar: May 26

June

• Public webinar: June 21
• Public webinar: June 22
• Stakeholder webinar: June 28

July

• Ongoing stakeholder communication, public comment period (July 14-July 24, 2022) and plan submission.

August - September

• Ongoing stakeholder communication and public input. State plan submitted and approved on September 14.

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

The feedback form provides you with an electronic opportunity to propose an electric vehicle charging station location on an interstate.

https://www.pima.wisconsindot.gov/public/comment/project-comment-dynamic?project_id=14407

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

WisDOT Resources

• The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) publishes annual reports detailing vehicle registrations, including a report (#25) by fuel type and county. Find them at the link below.
  Wisconsin DMV Vehicle Information Reports
• The DMV is responsible for the collection of motor vehicle fuel surcharges. To learn more about the surcharges, visit the link below.
  Wisconsin DMV Fuel Surcharge
• To learn more about other alternative fuel sources, visit the link below.
  Alternative Fuel sources

State of Wisconsin Resources

• Visit the link below for the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin's page on EVs.
  Public Service Commission
• In August 2019, Governor Evers issued Executive Order #38 which ordered the creation of the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE). OSCE leads the State of Wisconsin in addressing the effects of climate change through programs and policies that support the use of clean energy resources and technology. To learn more about OSCE, visit their website linked below.
  Wisconsin Department of Administration, Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy
• Clean Energy Plan
• In October 2019, Governor Evers issued Executive Order #52 to establish the Governor's Taskforce on Climate Change. The Taskforce worked to develop the report linked below, presented to the Governor in October 2020.
  Governor's Taskforce on Climate Change Report

Federal Government Resources

• National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program
• NEVI Formula Program Q&A
• Alternative Fuels Data Center - Developing Infrastructure to Charge Electric Vehicles
• Buy America Requirement for Electric Vehicle Chargers
• The U.S. Department of Energy maintains an interactive database of EVCS in the United States. The database allows users to find EVCS locations and includes a trip planning feature to identify locations along routes determined by the user.
  U.S. Department of Energy EVCS Locator
• In November 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which provides funding for a number of infrastructure projects across the nation. To learn more about the Law and what it means for Wisconsin, visit the links below.
  Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
• What it Means for Wisconsin
• To learn more about the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program guidance.
• To learn more about the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, visit their website here.
• FHWA Alternative Fuel Corridors
• Electric & Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (EPA)
• Electric Vehicles & Rural Transportation
• Electric Vehicle Charging Justice40 Map
• FHWA NEVI FAQs
• Plug-In Electric Vehicle Handbook
• Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure Toolkit
• Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations