U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center

Minnesota Incentives and Laws for EVs

The list below contains summaries of all Minnesota incentives and laws related to EVs.

Laws and Regulations

State Agency Sustainability Plan and Requirements

State agencies must establish interagency teams to develop and implement sustainability goals that reduce state vehicle petroleum consumption. In addition, each state department or agency must prepare an annual sustainability plan that includes ways to modify vehicle use practices, and report annually on progress towards implementing their plan. Each state agency plan must be based on following targets and mandates:

Using 2005 as a baseline, the state must achieve a 50% reduction in gasoline used to operate state agency owned on-road vehicles by 2015;
Using 2005 as a baseline, the state must achieve a 25% reduction in the use of petroleum-based diesel fuel for state owned on-road vehicles by 2015;
When reasonably possible, state agencies must purchase on-road vehicles that use alternative fuels, including biodiesel blends of 20% (B20) or greater, compressed or liquefied natural gas, ethanol blends of 70% (E70) or greater, hydrogen, propane, or electricity, or (with the exception of buses, snowplows, and construction vehicles) have a fuel economy rating that exceeds 30 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 35 mpg on the highway;
When reasonably possible, state employees must fuel vehicles capable of operating on an alternative fuel with that fuel;
State agencies must increase the use of renewable fuels derived from agricultural products or waste products; and
State agencies must increase the use of technology for delivering information and services in order to reduce reliance on the state's fleet.

(Reference Executive Order 11-13, 2011, and Minnesota Statutes 16C.135 and 16C.137)

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Requirements

Without requiring significant upgrades, EVSE installed in Minnesota must: 1) be able to be used by any make, model, or type of plug-in electric vehicle; 2) comply with state safety standards and standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers; and 3) be capable of bidirectional charging once electrical utilities achieve a cost-effective ability to draw electricity from plug-in electric vehicles connected to the utility grid. (Reference Minnesota Statutes 325F.185 and 326B.35)

Plug-In Electric Vehicle Initiatives

All solicitation documents that include the purchase of passenger automobiles issued under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota Department of Administration must assert the intention of the state to begin purchasing all-electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) as soon as they become commercially available. Vehicles must meet the state's performance specifications and be priced no more than 10% above the price for comparable gasoline-powered vehicles. An EV is defined as a motor vehicle that can be powered by an electric motor drawing current from rechargeable storage batteries, fuel cells, or other portable sources of electrical current, and meets or exceeds applicable requirements in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 571, and future regulations. A PHEV is an EV containing an internal combustion engine that uses a battery-powered electric motor to deliver power to the drive wheels. When connected to the electrical grid via an electrical outlet, the vehicle must be able to recharge its battery. The vehicle must have the ability to travel at least 20 miles powered substantially by electricity. (Reference Minnesota Statutes 16C.138 and 169.011)

Medium-Speed Electric Vehicle (EV) Access to Roadways

A medium-speed EV is an electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle capable of achieving speeds between 25 miles per hours (mph) and 35 mph on a paved, level surface. Except with respect to maximum speed, a medium-speed EV must meet or exceed regulations in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 571.500. A medium-speed EV may not operate on a roadway with a speed limit greater than 35 mph, except to cross that roadway. A road authority may prohibit or further restrict the operation of medium-speed EVs on any street or highway under the road authority's jurisdiction. (Reference Minnesota Statutes 169.011 and 169.224)