Minnesota Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
The Minnesota Department of Transportation closed the third request for proposals on Nov. 2, 2026. Sincere thanks to all who submitted applications and our partners who helped spread the word about this opportunity. Our next steps include:
- Reviewing all applications and scoring all responsive applications.
- Awarding up to 40 grants this round with no more than one award per cluster.
- Announcing conditional awards by Dec. 30, 2026. That date is tentative depending on the volume of applications received. We'll publish updates on our webpage and through this listserv.
Stay informed by checking the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure in Minnesota webpage.
NEVI Station number nine opens in Minnesota
Congratulations to Kwik Trip on opening the ninth NEVI station in Minnesota! This station, located in St. Michael along I-94, helps support electric vehicle (EV) travel in the west-central part of the state. This helps alleviate range anxiety, which we know is a key deterrent for many as they consider whether to purchase an electric vehicle.
 Figure 1 - DCFC chargers at Kwik Trip-St. Michael
Department of Commerce Electric School Bus Grant Announcement
Applications are now open for the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Electric School Bus Grant Program. Two applications are open simultaneously, one for Equipment and one for Planning & Technical Assistance.
Funding for the Equipment application includes:
- Purchasing up to three new electric school buses, or repowering fossil-fuel-powered school buses to run on electricity
- Installing charging infrastructure for the buses
- Additional administrative and project costs
Funding for the Planning & Technical Assistance application includes:
- Developing plans to transition to electric school buses
- Assistance preparing federal grant applications
Depending on the district’s financial need and other district prioritization criteria, Commerce will cover 80-90% of bus purchase costs and 65-95% of all other eligible expenses for Equipment grants. Planning and Technical Assistance awards are available up to $27,000. Commerce has up to $1.7 million available across both applications.
Applications are open from Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, until Thursday, Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. Central time. The RFPs are posted online on Commerce's RFP page.
EVSE Technician Training Pilot
Build the skills to install, maintain, and troubleshoot EV charging equipment through St. Paul College free EVSE Technician Course.
This hands-on training also prepares you for the EVITP certification exam. Earning the certification helps meet NEVI workforce requirements and can position your company to pursue bids or subcontracting opportunities on federally funded charging installation projects. Course completion alone does not confer certification or guarantee bid eligibility.
Classes meet Dec. 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10, 2026 at St. Paul College (235 Marshall Ave., St. Paul, 55102) with evening weekday sessions and a Saturday morning session. Full scholarships are available for 20 participants; a required registration deposit of $30 is refunded after successful completion.
Register by Nov. 26 via the EVSE Technician course registration page. Registration is first come, first served.
This course is offered through a pilot led by the Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence with funding in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Xcel Energy commercial EVSE rebate program opens
Xcel Energy launched the Minnesota Commercial EV Infrastructure rebate program on Oct. 19, 2026. The application window will be open until Dec. 17, 2026.
The person or entity that will be the Xcel Energy Account Holder, responsible for paying the electric bill for the EV chargers, must submit an inquiry interest form to begin the application process. EV Solutions | Business Services | Xcel Energy and select “Let’s Connect” to submit the form.
For an overview of the program, Xcel Energy Minnesota EV Infrastructure Rebate Overview - YouTube
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