This project is funded through a federal grant from the US Department of Transportation. Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office applied for and was awarded nearly $15 million for the project, with an additional $3 million in local match funds to be provided by a private sector partner. Milwaukee is supporting the rapid growth of electric vehicles in Wisconsin and across the country. This initiative ensures our city keeps pace with evolving transportation trends, supports cleaner air, domestic manufacturing, local jobs, and gives more residents access to affordable, reliable charging.

These are public stations meant to serve Milwaukee residents, workers, and visitors—especially those who don’t have access to private home chargers. Renters, apartment dwellers, and residents of older homes stand to benefit the most.

In total, the project aims to install chargers at a total of 53 separate locations, each capable of charging four vehicles at a time. The City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office, in consultation with elected officials and administrative staff, selected the first 10-15 sites on publicly owned land, including libraries and Milwaukee County Parks. For the remainder of the sites we’re asking the community for input. Residents can suggest charger locations at engage.milwaukee.gov/EV. The city is looking for sites that are convenient, visible, and accessible to all neighborhoods. The city has not yet received clear guidance from Federal Highway Administration on whether charging stations can be located in paid-entry lots or parking structures, the initial sites are located in free parking areas.

The 13 initial sites the City is currently evaluating include:

• Bay View Library
• Center St Library
• MLK Library
• Villard Library
• Good Hope Library
• East Library or the public lot at 1915 E North Ave
• Mitchell Street Library
• Zablocki Library
• Washington Park (Urban Ecology Center lot)
• Mitchell Park Domes
• Lincoln Park
• Zoofari conference center
• Veterans Park

Yes. Milwaukee has a small number of EV charging stations compared to other major cities. See PlugShare.com.

The chargers will work with a wide range of electric vehicles, including most standard models on the market today. They are not limited to specific brands or luxury cars. The city is awaiting potential updates to federal guidance, but most stations will feature 240V Level 2 chargers.

Milwaukee received a $15 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. The City is currently doing planning and engineering and expects the US DOT to release the construction funds once engineering and environmental reviews are complete.

Not as common as in other cities. A robust public charging network will encourage more local auto dealers to stock electric vehicles and the public to consider them as an attractive option. Wisconsin has nearly 25,000 registered electric vehicles as of 2024, including over 11,800 electric cars and more than 15,100 electric trucks. Milwaukee County's numbers are rising quickly as more people make the switch.

This initiative is about expanding options for consumers, making it easier to select a vehicle with lower pollution. As more affordable EVs enter the market and used EVs become available, public charging helps ensure all Milwaukeeans can benefit from this transition, regardless of income or housing type.

Cleaner air, quieter streets, and healthier neighborhoods. Reducing vehicle emissions improves public health especially in areas disproportionately affected by pollution and higher rates of asthma.

Yes. These stations will be compliant with State law for EV charging, and users will pay a fee to use the stations similar to how drivers of gasoline vehicles pay for fuel.

The City of Milwaukee plans to issue a public request for proposals later this year to select a private sector partner to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the stations. The City will select a qualified provider based on a host of factors including price, capacity to deliver, experience, and other factors.

You can visit engage.milwaukee.gov/EV to share your input, sign up for updates, and follow the city’s progress on the EV charging rollout. You can also subscribe to ECO’s newsletter.