
The first three Kwik Trips with fast electric chargers are up and running in Wisconsin as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
The convenience-store locations, which started operating the chargers in December, are in Ashland, Chippewa Falls and Menomonie. The program, which offers direct-current fast chargers (DCFCs) to EV customers, includes connectors for Combined Charging Standard (CCS) and the North American Charging Standard (NACS), allowing drivers of almost any type of EV to charge in a safe, clean and staffed 24/7 location, Kwik Trip said.
“We were awarded 24 locations as part of Wisconsin’s NEVI program,” Ben Leibl, La Crosse, Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip spokesperson, told CSP. “We will continue to add more locations throughout 2025.”
Leibl added that Kwik Trip has had EV chargers at stores before, but none has been the fast chargers like the ones being installed now.
In addition to funding from the NEVI program, there also was private investment, according to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, which said the stations are strategically located in rural communities “that see frequent travel due to tourism and their location along key highway corridors.”
Kwik Trip is No. 11 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
The stations contain four ports with both CCS and J3400 connectors, and each station can deliver up to 150 kW per port, the Joint Office said.
“We are excited to offer our Kwik Charge program to our guests who drive EV,” Leibl told CSP. “They will not only be able to charge their vehicle, but they can also take advantage of all our quality offerings inside our stores.”
The stations are part of Kwik Trip's Kwik Charge program, which will provide DC fast chargers to customers traveling throughout the Midwest.
“This program aims to provide a reliable, guest-focused experience creating new expectations for how EV owners charge by including multiple charging connector types, allowing drivers of almost any electric vehicle to charge at a safe, clean, and staffed 24/7 location,” the Joint Office said.
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office, said, “It’s great to see more states expanding the NEVI network and filling in coverage gaps for drivers and riders. EV charging often happens in communities. Whether it’s parents visiting their kids at college, families staying at their cabins or people road tripping on Interstate 94 for the holidays, expanding the network gives consumers accessible options to charge their vehicles.”
All 50 States
The Joint Office is working with all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico to ensure the success of the NEVI program. NEVI is a concerted effort to ensure that those who choose an EV benefit from a network that is thoughtfully planned, efficiently built and meets the needs of all Americans, regardless of where they live, the Joint Office said.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers in 2024 signed legislation to enable WisDOT to receive and administer more than $78 million in NEVI investments to help Wisconsin bolster its EV infrastructure, through which the governor and WisDOT in May announced $23 million to support 53 projects to expand EV infrastructure across Wisconsin.
“Expanding our EV infrastructure is a critical part of making sure Wisconsin can meet the demands of a 21st-century workforce and economy while making sure we’re embracing cleaner, more efficient transportation options,” Evers said. “I look forward to more fast-charging stations coming online as we continue building upon our work to bolster our EV infrastructure and provide more sustainable transportation alternatives for Wisconsinites and visitors alike traveling across our state.”
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
In November 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, designating $7.5 billion to build out a national network of EV charging stations. The NEVI Formula Program lays the groundwork for formula funding designation and use and is specifically intended to build out the EV charging system along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.
“As more Wisconsinites are choosing electric vehicles, we need to make sure that they have charging stations across the state so they can get to school, get outside, or do business,” said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin). “I’m thrilled that the funding I worked hard to deliver is expanding this electric vehicle infrastructure and helping improve the air our children breathe—creating more opportunities for Wisconsin workers to make it all possible. This is just the beginning—I’m excited to see more charging stations online in the coming months.”
Kwik Trip operates in Wisconsin, Minnesota and northern Michigan under the Kwik Trip name, and in Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota under the Kwik Star banner. Kwik Trip was recently named the best gas station brand in the United States for the fifth year in a row, according to the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The family-owned company has about 850 locations and is one of the biggest independently held c-store chains in the country.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.