Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan

The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Office of Sustainability & Public Health is hosting a virtual conversation about Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) and the potential for Minnesota to nominate additional roads in future Federal Highway Administration designation rounds. We’re seeking input from interested members of the community on Electric Vehicle charging needs and potential future priorities and corridors. This virtual meeting will be on May 22, from 9 - 11 AM. Register here for this virtual meeting hosted through Webex.

Agenda will include

1. Review of the MN Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan status
2. Discuss pros and cons of designating additional roads as AFCs
3. Understand the capacity and interest of communities and utilities in various levels of EV charging

Background

The U.S. DOT Alternative Fuel Corridor Nominations process started under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST) Act in 2015 and were modified a bit under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Minnesota currently has two roads designated as Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC) for Electric Vehicles – I-94 and I-35. This designation is important in determining how some of the federal IIJA funds can be spent on charging stations, the numbers, type, etc.

Register here for this virtual meeting hosted through Webex.

MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, documents in an alternative format (such as braille, large print or in a different language), or another reasonable accommodation for this email or event, please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Office of Sustainability & Public Health will host in-person conversations about the next round of nominating roads as Alternative Fuel Corridors. Dates, times and locations are listed below. We’re seeking input from interested members of the community on the future corridors and we’d like your perspective. No registration is required to attend, and the same agenda will be used in all locations.

MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, documents in an alternative format (such as braille, large print or in a different language), or another reasonable accommodation for this email or event, please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720.

A virtual meeting will take place on May 22, 2023, from 9 AM – 11 AM. Registration details will be sent out separately.

Background

The U.S. DOT Alternative Fuel Corridor Nominations process started under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST) Act in 2015 and were modified a bit under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Minnesota currently has two roads designated as Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC) for Electric Vehicles – I-94 and I-35. This designation is important in determining how some of the federal IIJA funds can be spent on charging stations, the numbers, type, etc.

Round 6 of nominations happened in February – May 2022 with a focus on DC Fast Chargers and Interstates. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has not released the criteria for the upcoming Round 7 yet, but it is anticipated in the first half of 2023.

Agenda will include

1. Review of the MN Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan status
2. Discuss pros and cons of designating additional roads as AFCs
3. Understand the capacity and interest of communities and utilities in various levels of EV charging

Locations, Dates, Times

• April 14 – 1:30 – 3:30 PM

Location – Southeast - MnDOT Rochester Headquarters, 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901-5848

• April 27 – 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Location – Northeast - MnDOT Duluth Headquarters, 1123 Mesaba Ave., Duluth, MN 55811

• May 3 – 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Location – Southwest – Windom Community Center, 1750 Cottonwood Lake Dr., Windom, MN 56101

• May 11 – 9:00 – 11:00 AM

Location – Central - MnDOT Baxter Headquarters,7694 Industrial Park Road, Baxter, MN 56425-8096

• May 11 – 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Location – Northwest – MnDOT Bemidji Headquarters, 3920 Highway 2 West, Bemidji, MN 56601

The Minnesota Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Plan identified potential locations for EV chargers along I-94 and I-35. MnDOT will use federal funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) to install EV chargers there first. As we think about the next round of charging stations funded through the NEVI program, MnDOT is asking for your input through a new survey. This survey also asks questions about the benefits of EV chargers. Your responses will help MnDOT collect the right type of information to evaluate the success of investments in EV chargers. Take the survey. now through May 31, 2023.

MnDOT will provide an opportunity for organizations and businesses that are interested in applying for NEVI funds to install fast chargers a way to find each other by offering a list on the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan webpage. Complete this short form to be added to the list. MnDOT will not actively connect organizations to each other. We will share the information provided on the EV Infrastructure Plan webpage in an Excel spreadsheet format that will be updated the 15^th of each month.

In addition to the NEVI Formula Funds program, FHWA has announce the following Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grants program on their webpage.

The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a new competitive grant program created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). CFI Program investments will make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles. This program provides two funding categories of grants: (1) Community Charging and Fueling Grants (Community Program); and (2) Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $2.5 billion over five years for this program. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) offers up to $700 million from Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities. Applications are due May 30, 2023.

Eligible applicants include:

• States or political subdivision of States
• Metropolitan planning organizations
• Unit of local governments
• Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, including port authorities
• Indian tribes
• U.S. Territories
• Authorities, agencies, or instrumentalities or entities owned by, one or more entities listed above
• Group of entities listed above
• State or local authorities with ownership of publicly accessible transportation facilities (applies to Community Program only)

February 28, 2023 - FHWA published a notice in the Federal Register with the final rule for EV charging station standards FWHA- National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program webpage. A few key items to note:

• Applicability – This rule applies to National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula funded stations and publicly accessible EV chargers funded with any EV charging infrastructure federal funds treated as a project on Federal-aid highway
• Charging Ports – The rule provides the minimum number, type of charging ports based on road type (Alternative Fuel Corridor (AFC) or not), power supply and power output. CHAdeMO charging ports can only be installed using FY 2022 funds and only in addition to 4 CCS ports.
• Training – The rule requires training for electricians either through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or in a Registered Apprentice program that includes charger-specific training.

February 21, 2023 - FHWA published a notice in the Federal Register to establish a temporary public interest waiver for Buy America requirements for steel, iron, manufactured products, and construction materials in electric vehicle chargers. Build America Buy America Implementation Plan to Enhance Buy America Standards for EV Charging

MnDOT strongly encourages all interested parties to read this rule and waiver carefully because these requirements will apply to site host and installer teams selected to receive NEVI funds in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan identifies 56 potential exits along I-94 and I-35 where fast chargers could be installed with NEVI formula funds. MnDOT is seeking a consultant to conduct site feasibility analysis within one mile of the potential exits and manage a competitive selection process to help MnDOT select vendors to install NEVI-compliant fast chargers at 16 sites. In order to apply the consultant must be on the MnDOT pre-qualified consultant list for Transportation Planning Level 2. The posting can be found on the P/T Notice webpage, The posting closes December 22, 2022.

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and Federal Highway Administration approved the Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.

MnDOT hosted a stakeholder meeting on October 13th to provide an update about next steps to implement the plan. The meeting was designed for potential implementation partners but was open to the public to attend.

Meeting Agenda

Meeting Slides

Meeting Q&A

Meeting Recording

MnDOT submitted the Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation on July 29, 2022.

The Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan describes how Minnesota will spend approximately the first year of NEVI Formula Program funds. The plan includes a vision and goals for a statewide fast charger network that provides convenient, reliable, and accessible EV charging across Minnesota by the end of the NEVI Formula Program. It describes implementation considerations related to operations and maintenance, civil rights, equity, labor and workforce, cybersecurity and concludes with information about how MnDOT will evaluate the NEVI Formula Program implementation in Minnesota.

There will be annual reviews and updates to the plan along with the potential to recommend additional roadways as AFCs.

Thank you for your ideas and input during our planning process. We are reviewing what we heard and incorporating it into our plan. The final Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan will be available in August 2022.