Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers joined three Midwest governors Tuesday to announce a new multi-state collaboration to create a network of electric vehicle (EV) chargers around Lake Michigan.
The network, called the “Lake Michigan EV Circuit Tour,” will be designed as a road trip route with EV chargers covering over 1,100 miles of drivable shoreline around Lake Michigan, according to a press release.
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin will create the network together and co-signed a memorandum on how to support organizations to build new EV charging stations and maintain them, the memorandum said. The partnership will also work to standardize regulations for light-duty electric vehicles (LDEV) between states and share best practices.
“Making our beautiful coastal communities not only more accessible to EVs but protecting them through lower emissions is a win-win for Wisconsin,” Evers said in the press release. “We’re proud to support this multi-state partnership as we work to implement our first-ever Clean Energy Plan and continue our efforts to bolster Wisconsin's tourism industry.”
The new charging stations will target key coastal communities, lighthouses and tourism attractions like state parks and breweries, according to the release, which called the network an “electric Route 66.” They will also be tied to existing charging infrastructure networks at entertainment attractions in Green Bay, Milwaukee, Chicago and in Traverse City, Michigan.
The shared memorandum also mentioned the route’s role in facilitating “ecotourism” by designing it as an access point to the region’s tourist attractions via electrified transportation.
While many of the network’s chargers are already operable today, the rest of the circuit is expected to be completed within the next few years, according to the release.
