Wide open roads and rolling hills have long made Northwestern Wisconsin a go-to for road trips, outdoor adventures and everyday travel between communities. But for electric vehicle drivers, just one thing often shapes the route: Where can I charge up?

Xcel Energy and Kwik Trip are collaborating to make that answer easier. The Midwest-founded companies partnered to bring direct-current fast chargers to seven Kwik Trip locations across Wisconsin, giving EV drivers more options at safe, well-lit locations – with Dunkers and Big Buddies never far from reach – along some of the region’s busiest roadways.

The Kwik Trip crew reached out to Xcel Energy back in 2022 to see how their locations could better serve EV drivers. By late 2024, Kwik Trip stores in Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Ashland and West Salem – stops that connect travelers along Interstate 94, U.S. Highways 29 and 53, Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 2 – were fitted with charging stations.

As part of Kwik Trip’s Kwik Charge brand, both Combined Charging Standard and North American Charging Standard connectors are available – nearly every EV driver can now power up at those stations.

Instead of planning around uncertainty, drivers can plug in while taking care of the essentials: a restroom run, cup of Karuba coffee and a Hot Spot stop.

The chargers are built for speed and reliability, with four chargers per location providing at least 150 kilowatts of power per dispenser, when multiple vehicles are plugged in; up to 400 kilowatts for a single vehicle.

Kwik Trip’s EV Program Manager, Adam Schwartz, said the collaboration has helped bring faster charging to Wisconsin communities while preserving the convenience customers expect from Kwik Trip stops.

“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,” Schwartz said.

Customer response has been strong, with Kwik Trip seeing positive comments on PlugShare, a community-based app that connects EV drivers with charging locations. The feedback points to what the companies hoped to create: not just more charging infrastructure, but a better overall experience for drivers.

For drivers traveling to and from the outdoor destinations and charming communities that put this slice of the state on the map for residents and travelers alike, this kind of dependable public charging can make EV travel that much more practical.

Instead of planning around uncertainty, drivers can plug in while taking care of the essentials: A restroom run, cup of Karuba coffee and a Hot Spot stop.

WHERE TO NEXT?

As of this summer, Kwik Trip is nearing completion of its 17th charging site and has identified over 20 additional locations for EV charging stations to be built in the coming years – from Wisconsin to Minnesota and Iowa.

Plus, Kwik Trip’s new Kwik Charge mobile app keeps users updated on charger location, availability and pricing.

With more places to charge, drivers can be confident in arriving wherever the open road takes them – with enough time to grab some Glazers along the way.

“Xcel Energy and Kwik Trip share a commitment to serving customers and communities,” said Matt Biren, Xcel Energy’s commercial EV account manager for Wisconsin. “Expanding the Kwik Charge program supports our goal to enable EV charging infrastructure across our service area and makes electric travel more convenient for drivers in Wisconsin and beyond.” 

For Xcel Energy, this work is part of a broader effort to support customers as transportation electrificaiton grows. That includes public charging partnerships, customer education and programs that help drivers and businesses understand their charging options.

In the Chippewa Valley and beyond, the impact is simple: with more places to charge, drivers can be confident in arriving wherever the open road takes them – with enough time to grab some Glazers along the way.

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Xcel Energy

Address: 1414 W. Hamilton Ave., Eau Claire

Phone: (800) 895-4999

Website: XcelEnergy.com

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