About the assessment
The Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Needs Assessment (MnEVINA) will identify the amount of electric vehicle (EV) charging needed and prioritize locations throughout Minnesota.
Vision
To support electric vehicles statewide, Minnesota will invest in an equitable network of public charging stations serving multiple transportation modes. This will drive economic opportunity, promote tourism, and enhance quality of life for all Minnesotans, while also making progress towards greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Project goals
- Identify priority areas for EV charging infrastructure throughout Minnesota based on gaps in the current EV charging infrastructure.
- Creation of a guide to help state agencies and partners on where and how to prioritize EV charging stations in Minnesota.
- An increased awareness of EVs and charging needs by Minnesota motorists, through education and community outreach.
Identify priority areas for EV charging infrastructure throughout Minnesota based on gaps in the current EV charging infrastructure.
Creation of a guide to help state agencies and partners on where and how to prioritize EV charging stations in Minnesota.
An increased awareness of EVs and charging needs by Minnesota motorists, through education and community outreach.
Electric vehicles
An electric vehicle is a vehicle that runs on an electric motor and is powered by the vehicle's battery.
Types of EVs
Electric vehicles are a rapidly evolving technology. They are fueled and propelled differently from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. This section provides an overview of EV types and associated infrastructure.
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
- Battery-only propulsion, no ICE backup
- Up to 400 mile range, depending on make and model
- Primary user considerations are long-range travel and evacuations
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
- Internal combustion engine and an electric motor
- Relatively short range on full battery (~40 miles), then the ICE automatically starts
- Not limited in range by electricity
Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
- ICE and electric motor
- Range: 20-30 miles
- Battery chargers by regenerative breaking or using as a generator
Types of EV chargers
Electric cars run on batteries that need to be charged. Refueling EVs occurs through charging the vehicle's batteries. This is similar to charging a phone or laptop but may feel new to people who are used to filling up gas cars at gas stations. There are three types of EV technologies currently available in the market for passenger vehicles.
Level 1: 1.9 kW
Characteristics
- Standard wall outlet charging
- Slower charging speed: up to 40 hours for a full charge
Locations
- Home
Charge speed
3-7 miles/hr
Install cost
Level 2: 3.6 – 12 kW
Characteristics
- Short-range travel (commuting)
- Slower charging speed; 4-10 hours to bring vehicle battery to 80 percent charge
- Currently accounts for approximately 80 percent of all charging demand
Locations
- Home
- Work
- Community locations (public and private)
- Curbside
- Utility Pole-mounted
Charge speed
10-42 miles/hr
Install cost
DCFC (Level 3): 50 kW – 350 kW
Characteristics
- Long-distance travel
- Fast charging speed: approximately 30 minutes to 80 percent charge
Locations
- Retail
- Community locations (public and private)
Charge speed
175-1,200 miles/hr
Install cost
EV benefits
While electric vehicles offer many advantages, five key benefits stand out.
- Improved air quality, lower emissions
- Lower fuel costs
- Less vehicle maintenance, fewer moving parts
- Noise pollution reduction
- Energy independence and use of renewables: better energy efficiency
Improved air quality, lower emissions
Lower fuel costs
Less vehicle maintenance, fewer moving parts
Noise pollution reduction
Energy independence and use of renewables: better energy efficiency
EV trends
Electric vehicle adoption is growing steadily in Minnesota and nationwide, with over 66,000 EVs registered in Minnesota and 3.5 million across the U.S. as of November 2024. Infrastructure gaps, particularly in public charging availability outside urban areas, highlight the need for significant expansion to meet future demands.
Minnesota trends
Registered EVs
- Over 66,000 EVs registered in Minnesota which is less than 1% of the total light-duty vehicles (standard car, truck or van) in MN (as of November 2024)
- 70% are Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
- 30% are Plug in (PHEV)
- Registered EVs have increased the last three years
Chargers
- 880 total chargers (704 L2/DCFC 176)
- 558 within the Twin Cities metro area
- 322 within greater MN
- Most stations are Level 2 chargers
- Only 3% of chargers are private
National trends
Registered EVs
- There are currently 3.5 million EVs registered in the United States
- NREL found that the United States charging network would likely need to support 33 million passenger EVs by the end of the current decade (2030)
- To support that many more EVs, 28 million charging ports will be needed
- 2020 Average Market Share is 2.29%
- 2021 Average Market Share is 4.35%
- 2022 Average Market Share is 7.03%
- 2023 Average Market Share is 9.51%
EV Market Share from January 2020 to December 2023
Building a public charging network
Building a charging network to support the large and increasing number of EV in the US and our communities, think of the network like a tree.
EV Charging Needs
Although most charging ports will be located in housing, to fully meet the expected demand there will still need to be several thousand chargers installed across Minnesota. They can be located around parking areas at workplaces, community centers, or retail, as well as at locations along the highways and freeways.
Using the EVI-Pro Lite tool the following needs are forecasted for 2030:
- It's estimated that there will be 612,000 to 829,000 EVs (8-11% of all vehicles) in the state.
- Minnesota will need 75,000 to 105,000 charging ports located at publicly accessible locations such as multi-family housing, workplaces, retail locations, community centers, cultural hubs and parking areas (e.g., parking ramps), and along interstates and freeways.
Potential station zones
We have identified 100+ charging station zones (targeted areas based on amenities or distance) along the state's most used highways and freeways.
EV priorities
It is essential to ensure limited funding supports equitable and sustainable access to EV charging, guiding MnDOT and the private sector in planning and distributing resources effectively.
(See potential responsible parties below)
- End Range Anxiety: Build out Minnesota's long-distance travel network with fast charging stations, priority given to rural areas with few existing charging stations
- Integrate Charging into Daily Travel: Add Level 2 charging to workplaces and key commercial areas which fit the day-to-day travel pattern of drivers
- Promote Multimodal Transportation: Encourage transit ridership and active transportation by locating charging stations alongside other transportation modes. Both Level 2 and fast charging stations offered.
- Bring Home Charging to All: Bring Level 2 charging to multifamily properties, curbside on residential streets and in disadvantaged single-family neighborhoods
- Accelerate Adoption: Build fast charging stations where EV adoption is highest and stations would see highest utilization
- Fill in the Gap: Add Level 2 charging stations to communities where the private market will lag in development, such as disadvantaged communities, at locations like libraries and community centers
Potential responsible parties could include:
- End Range Anxiety: MnDOT, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Tribal Nations
- Integrate Charging into Daily Travel: Regional Planning Organizations, Tribal Nations, Private Development, Other State Agencies
- Promote Multimodal Transportation: MnDOT, Local Transit Agencies, Regional Planning Organizations
- Bring Home Charging to All: Utilities, Private Development, other State Agencies
- Accelerate Adoption: MnDOT, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Regional Planning Organizations
- Fill in the Gap: MnDOT, Local governments/municipalities, Private Development, Tribal Nations