By 2030, the Minnesota Department of Transportation predicts 717,000 electric vehicles (EV) will be registered in the state of Minnesota, while the Metropolitan Council predicts that by 2040 approximately 1.2 million EVs will be registered in the seven-county region. If these trends hold, there will be an increased need for EV charging stations across the state.
Both the Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Council have been studying public charging needs in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and across the state. While EV drivers in single-family homes typically charge their vehicles at home, the Metropolitan Council analysis focused on drivers who rely on public charging such as renters, rideshare drivers, and drivers in disadvantaged communities.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation also studied the transition to electric vehicle fleets across public agencies in Minnesota. The report found that while concerns remain around range, reliability in cold weather, and power availability, light-duty EVs have reached cost parity with internal combustion engine vehicles and 57% of agencies have sufficient parking for chargers. The department’s analysis “yields several critical strategic insights for a successful fleet electrification.”
Recent reports on electric vehicles: