Plug into Minnesota and Electrify your Next Road Trip up North

Original article from Drive Electric Minnesota.

Autumn is quickly underway in Minnesota, which means it’s the perfect time to head north and witness the spectacular fall colors along the North Shore of Lake Superior. And now, thanks to the addition of DC Fast Chargers between the Twin Cities and Tettegouche State Park, drivers of all electric vehicles (EVs), even those with lower ranges, can enjoy a Fall road trip along Minnesota’s new electric highway.

The new charging infrastructure was made possible by Great River Energy (GRE) and its member-owner distribution cooperatives along with several partners as part of Plug Into MN.

“A common barrier to driving electric is range anxiety. It’s a paradigm shift to think about refueling (charging) at home and at your destination versus on your way to the destination,” said David Ranallo, manager of member services and marketing at Great River Energy. “Although many newer makes and models of EV’s don’t even need a charge on their way between Minnesota’s beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior and the Twin Cities, now there are fast chargers available for the whole route so they don’t even have to think about which car to take – that’s something to celebrate.”

The chargers, as well as a suggested route to your destination, can be found on plugshare.com.  Available ports along the route include Level I (wall outlet), Level II (J1772), and DC fast chargers (CHAdeMO and CCS). Additionally, there are a few Nema 14-50 and Tesla Superchargers along the way, and Teslas with an adapter can take advantage of the other ports.

As a kickoff to encourage EV drivers to experience the new chargers, GRE is offering a chance for current and future EV owners to win a North Shore getaway. Included in the getaway is a Tesla rental car, a two-night stay at Larsmont Cottages, and a $200 Visa gift card for food along the way. One entry per person per day is permitted through October 31, 2017. To enter, and for official rules, click here.

Additionally, there will be a couple dedication events to celebrate the completion of the corridor and to highlight unique partnerships, like the one between Lake Country Power and ZEF Energy that made the new DCFC charger at Sturgeon Lake possible (expected to be fully operational by the first week in October). Information about these events will be broadcasted on PlugIntoMN’s social media pages as they develop.