Northwestern Wisconsin is known for its lakes, rivers, forests and abundant outdoor activities, making it an ideal place to live and a wonderful place to visit. Yet, until recently, travelers in electric vehicles found the region lacking in high-quality, dependable public fast charging, which made it nearly impossible to get from one area to another with certainty.
That changed in late 2024 when Xcel Energy partnered with Kwik Trip to place into service 16 direct current fast chargers (DCFCs) at four Kwik Trip stores. The 16 fast chargers each include two connectors - one for Combined Charging Standard (CCS) and one for the North American Charging Standard (NACS) -- allowing drivers of almost any EV to charge at a safe, clean and staffed location 24/7. These chargers also provide at least 150kW of power per dispenser when four vehicles are plugged in, or up to 400kW of power for a single vehicle.
Tim Bartels, Xcel Energy’s Program Manager in Wisconsin who worked closely with Kwik Trip from the initial scoping to procurement, highlighted Kwik Trip’s well-known culture of customer service and quality as being key to the two companies' successful partnership.
“The entire team at Kwik Trip is committed to providing the best customer experience for all of their guests,” Bartels said. “Every decision we made together prioritized the EV driver. I’m excited that Xcel Energy played a role and contributed to bringing this option to our communities in Wisconsin.”
The chargers are strategically located on some of the most highly traveled routes in northwestern Wisconsin, including Kwik Trip locations on Interstate 90 in West Salem, U.S. Highway 2 in Ashland, Interstate 94 in Menomonie and U.S. Highway 29 and 53 in Chippewa Falls.
“We were thrilled to work with Xcel Energy on this innovative partnership,” said Adam Schwartz, Kwik Trip’s EV Program Manager. “By working closely with Xcel Energy, we were able to efficiently bring this program to northwestern Wisconsin and continue to offer all the wonderful amenities that drivers want.”
To learn more about our EV charging programs and incentives, visit ev.xcelenergy.com.