How are Rural Electric Vehicle Owners Faring in Minnesota?

One common misconception we often hear is that driving an electric vehicle (EV) in rural Minnesota is not practical because of the lack of range and charging infrastructure. To put that to the test, in November 2024, we surveyed rural EV owners to understand their experiences.

EV adoption is growing in the US, including rural America. In Minnesota, there is at least one registered EV in every county, according to the EValuateMN dashboard. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory projects that “sixty percent of the 33-million EVs expected by 2030 are projected to be in suburban areas. Of the remainder, 20% will be in rural locations and another 20% in urban areas.”

As EV adoption expands, we wanted to hear from rural EV owners directly. Do they struggle to find charging? Are they getting stranded by the side of the highway? Do they experience other issues you wouldn’t think of?

As part of my work with Drive Electric Minnesota, I surveyed rural Minnesota EV owners. I wanted to learn more about their good and not-so-good experiences owning an EV. I was pleased with what we found out.

EV owners beyond the metro

Twelve participants from various areas around Minnesota responded to the survey. Their locations include Bemidji, Brainerd, Clearwater, Foley, Henderson, Mankato, Miltona, Northfield, Osseo, Sartell, and Saginaw.

Figure 1: Map of Minnesota showing pins where survey participants live.

They drive a variety of EVs, including the Chevy Bolt, Ford Lightning, Tesla X, Y, and 3 models, Mitsubishi iMiEV, Nissan Leaf, Subaru Solterra, and Hyundai Kona. Most of them primarily charge at home, but a few also charge at work.

As shown in the image below, respondents reported various individual annual income levels, ranging from less than $45,000 to over $100,000 per year, including retired individuals. This suggests that EV adoption is no longer limited to higher-income households. The falling price of EVs and incentives has made it feasible for more people to drive electric. According to Kelly Blue Book, the average price of an EV decreased by 4.1 percent from 2023 to 2024.

Additionally, most respondents reported an average daily mileage of 75 or less—a range easily performed by EVs on the market today. For longer trips, participants mentioned planning ahead of time to map out where they need to charge along the way. One participant said that “the infrastructure is limited but is sufficient for a cross-country road trip.” They were able to travel to Colorado, Chicago, and Indianapolis.

The benefits of owning EVs

Overwhelmingly, respondents indicated that they most enjoy the overall experience of driving an EV, particularly relating to the feel and technology. They used words like “instant torque,” “regenerative breaking,” “nimble[ness],” and “great tech” to describe their experiences. They also expressed the great benefit of significantly lower emissions and zero tailpipe emissions. Another respondent said after replacing their last remaining gas car, they have “ZERO regrets, just cheerleading pom poms!”

Another huge benefit enjoyed by respondents is the cost savings. Participants said that after the initial purchase price of the vehicle, they saved money on maintenance and operations compared to a gas vehicle. One person said their EV is the “cheapest vehicle to operate, by far.”

The challenges of owning EVs

While respondents enjoyed their overall experience of owning an EV in Greater Minnesota, they also expressed some pain points.

Participants said that without access to home charging, some might want to wait to buy an EV because relying on public charging is difficult due to the low number of chargers. Another said that “the only negative has to do with the lack of charging infrastructure, making travel to certain areas more difficult. That’s slowly improving, though.”

This has been a common and valid concern for many people looking to switch from gas to electric, even in metro areas. Public charging infrastructure is expanding, but continued growth is essential. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program in Minnesota deployed its first round of funding to install direct current (DC) fast chargers along Alternative Fuel Corridors. Businesses, including Kwik Trip and Circle K gas stations, received awards in 2024. The Minnesota Department of Transportation anticipates announcing Round 2 awards in April 2025, though efforts by the Trump Administration could change the future of the program.

Regardless of what happens at the federal level, the survey participants want to see public chargers in more places. They suggested adding chargers at malls, parks, sports complexes, movie theaters, hotels, restaurants, and libraries—places they all frequent. Efforts from utilities to expand the public EV charging network will help. For example, Otter Tail Power Company is expanding access to EV charging in Northern Minnesota and includes an extensive map of DC fast chargers on its website.

Other pain points included hearing ignorant comments from non-EV owners, finding an EV repair person in a rural area, some loss of battery range in the winter months, and the extra planning for long-distance travel due to limited charging availability.

Our takeaways

Overall, rural Minnesotans with varying income levels are having positive experiences driving EVs. They enjoy their vehicles for the cost savings, technology, and low emissions. A big key to that positive experience is having access to a home charger (and more fast chargers in rural areas wouldn’t hurt either). Their advice for others? “Drive one. You’ll like it.”

Our mission at Drive Electric Minnesota is to accelerate the adoption of EVs in the state, which includes expanding charging infrastructure. We will continue making progress with our partners to improve the EV experience and reduce barriers to EV adoption.

Want to learn more about EV ownership? The Drive Electric Minnesota website has an array of resources to answer your questions. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter for regular updates on EVs and follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.