EV Charging Incentives, Funding & Compliance in Wisconsin (2026)
Federal NEVI money flows through the Wisconsin DOT, and the state's many electric cooperatives offer EV charging station rebates, alongside Madison Gas & Electric's EV programs. Note: Wisconsin was not listed as a NASPO ValuePoint participating addendum as of August 2026, so public agencies should verify whether they can purchase ZEF through the contract or need to run a solicitation.
Speak To An ExpertWisconsin incentive programs
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program — Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) · Federal formula funding (Title 23)
NEVI federal formula apportioned to Wisconsin; federal share up to 80% of eligible project costs. Verify current apportionment and open solicitation rounds with WDOT.
Site hosts, charging providers, and public entities applying through WDOT solicitations
Deadline: Per WDOT solicitation round · Status: Active — verify current round status with WDOT
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →Utility programs in Wisconsin
Madison Gas & Electric — Charge Ahead Program
Madison Gas & Electric · Utility performance-based incentive
Verify current Charge Ahead amounts and eligible models with Madison Gas & Electric
Madison Gas & Electric customers installing EV charging
Deadline: Verify with Madison Gas & Electric · Status: Active (DSIRE last updated Sep 2025)
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →Madison Gas & Electric — Electric Vehicle Charger Leasing Program
Madison Gas & Electric · Utility leasing program
Verify current EV charger leasing terms with Madison Gas & Electric
Madison Gas & Electric customers
Deadline: Verify with Madison Gas & Electric · Status: Active (DSIRE last updated Sep 2025)
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →Riverland Energy Cooperative — Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebate
Riverland Energy Cooperative · Utility rebate
Verify current EV charging station rebate with Riverland Energy Cooperative
Riverland Energy Cooperative members
Deadline: Verify with Riverland Energy Cooperative · Status: Active (DSIRE last updated Nov 2025)
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →Clark Electric Cooperative — Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebate
Clark Electric Cooperative · Utility rebate
Verify current EV charging station rebate with Clark Electric Cooperative
Clark Electric Cooperative members
Deadline: Verify with Clark Electric Cooperative · Status: Active (DSIRE last updated Feb 2026)
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →How to buy ZEF equipment in Wisconsin
Browse ZEF’s Level 2 and DC fast chargers, or talk to ZEF about the right purchasing route for your Wisconsin project.
Compliance requirements in Wisconsin
Standing requirements for public charging in Wisconsin
As in every state, Wisconsin public chargers must use NRTL (ETL)-listed equipment installed to electrical code under permit, meet ADA accessibility in siting (the site owner's design responsibility), and follow any state weights-and-measures rules where charging is sold by the kWh. NEVI-funded projects additionally carry the 23 CFR 680 minimum standards and Buy America. source
Common funding-attached requirements that apply when federal money is involved:
- Buy America & Build America, Buy America (BABA) — Any EV charging project using federal funds: FHWA money (NEVI, CFI, other federal-aid) triggers FHWA Buy America; other federal financial assistance used for infrastructure triggers BABA.
- NEVI Minimum Standards (23 CFR Part 680) — EV charging infrastructure funded under the NEVI program or with other Title 23 federal-aid highway funds. Does not attach to EPA or purely state/utility funding.
Recommended ZEF products for Wisconsin
- ZEF Level 2 chargers with ZEFNET — For co-op and Madison Gas & Electric projects (Riverland, Clark Electric, MGE Charge Ahead/leasing) — ETL-listed, OCPP 1.6/2.0.1 and OpenADR 2.0b.
- ZEF DC fast chargers with ZEFNET — For NEVI corridor and public-charging projects funded through the Wisconsin DOT — ETL-listed, with ZEFNET supporting the § 680.108 protocol stack (OCPP 1.6/2.0.1, ISO 15118, OCPI 2.2.1); ask ZEF for project-specific conformance and Buy America documentation.
See full specifications at zefenergy.com/products, and estimate project economics with ZEF’s payback calculator.
Get notified when Wisconsin charging programs change
One email when a verified program opens, closes, or changes — nothing else.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Wisconsin public agency buy ZEF chargers without running a solicitation?
Possibly — ZEF is on the NASPO ValuePoint EV Charging Station Equipment & Services portfolio, but Wisconsin was not listed as a participating addendum state as of August 2026. Your subdivision should verify current NASPO participation with the NASPO ValuePoint program or ZEF before assuming it can purchase through the contract; otherwise a standard solicitation applies.
Do Wisconsin utilities rebate EV chargers?
Yes — Madison Gas & Electric runs the Charge Ahead program and an EV charger leasing program, and many electric cooperatives (Riverland Energy, Clark Electric, Price Electric, Chippewa Valley Electric, East Central, Barron) offer EV charging station rebates. ZEF's ETL-listed, OCPP-compliant chargers meet the open-protocol requirements these programs typically impose — verify current amounts and eligible models with your utility.
Does ZEF meet the NEVI charging protocol requirements in Wisconsin?
ZEF chargers are ETL-listed and the ZEFNET platform supports OCPP 1.6, OCPP 2.0.1, ISO 15118, OpenADR 2.0b, and OCPI 2.2.1 — the charger-to-EV, charger-to-network, and network-to-network protocols 23 CFR 680.108 requires for NEVI-funded chargers. For a NEVI project funded through WisDOT, ask ZEF for project-specific conformance documentation.
What standing requirements apply to a public charger in Wisconsin?
Electrical code and NRTL (ETL) listing, ADA-accessible siting (the site owner's design responsibility), and any state weights-and-measures rules where you sell charging by the kWh. NEVI-funded projects additionally carry the 23 CFR 680 minimum standards and Buy America.
Get help winning Wisconsin funding
ZEF has helped 80+ utility partners and 200+ cities and agencies fund, buy, and deploy compliant EV charging. Bring us your project and funding questions.
Speak To An Expert Or email solutions@zefenergy.com · call 1-888-493-3638