Shift2Electric maintains an EV Info List of all electric vehicles available for purchase in the United States. It covers both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. View the EV Info List Here →

The Tesla Model Y is the most frequently sold electric vehicle (EV) in Minnesota, which costs an average of $45,000. There are also many other affordable battery EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs, including the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bolt, and Mitsubishi Outlander. 

Don’t let the front-wheel drive fool you—electric vehicles (EVs) can perform better in icy conditions compared to gasoline vehicles due to the more consistent acceleration and lower center of gravity. However, cold weather can impact battery charge with the most bitterly cold days (-10 F) reducing the charge by 40 percent. In those rare cases, features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel can keep you warm and lessen the drain on the battery. Additionally, keep in mind that Norway and Iceland are currently leading the world in the number of EVs sold, and they have much colder climates than ours!  

Vehicles included in the state contract can be found on the Minnesota Office of State Procurement website and can only be purchased by Cooperative Purchasing Venture members. To find out if your organization is already a CPV member, review the CPV Member List. Once your member status is confirmed, you will have to sign in to the secure area of the site to access the list of vehicles covered by the state contract (release number A-175(5)). If you need help navigating the site, please contact the Office of State Procurement at (651) 296-2600. 

Whether you should lease or purchase an electric vehicle is ultimately up to you and what fits your needs best. However, if you are a Sourcewell member, you can use the federal electric vehicle tax credit while leasing. Learn more about participating in Sourcewell here →   

Level 1 

Charging a vehicle at Level 1 means plugging into a standard 120-volt supply. All drivers can charge their electric vehicle at Level 1, which requires no extra equipment or installation.

Level 2 

Charging a vehicle at Level 2 means plugging into a 240-volt supply (think home appliances like dryers).

DC Fast Charger 

The two main standards for DC fast chargers include CCS Type 1 and the North American Charging Standard (or J3400).

Learn more about EV charger types here →

Yes and no. All electric vehicles charge due to the flow of electrons from a charging station to the vehicle. The main differences are in charging time and plugs. Teslas and vehicles with a CCS-1 to J3400 adapter are the only vehicles that can charge using the Tesla Supercharger network. Teslas also charge using the NEMA 14-50 (Level 2) plugs. All other electric vehicles (full or plug-in hybrid) in the United States plug into the J1772 (Level 2) and CCS-1 or CHAdeMO (DCFC) plugs. By using an adapter, Tesla vehicles can also utilize these plugs.

As mentioned above, charging times differ based on the level of charger being used (Level 1, Level 2, or DCFC) and battery size. Larger batteries, like those in a Chevy Bolt with a 238-mile electric range, take longer to charge than smaller batteries, like those in a Chevy Volt with a 53-mile electric range.