Starting September 1, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on the UW–Madison campus will require a separate fee in addition to standard parking permits or visitor parking costs.
Transitioning campus EV chargers to a paid model is due to City of Madison ordinance 28.141 (8) (e) and State of Wisconsin 2023 Acts 121 and 122. The laws require all new EV stations to be user-paid.
Over the summer, new stations will be installed in some campus parking lots, such as Park and Ride Lot 206. Existing chargers will be replaced with new models.
EV charging stations were first installed on campus in 2014, making some over a decade old. Since then, there has been no cost to use the stations on top of regular parking fees.
The revenue from the new stations will be used to pay for the EV chargers and the electricity they use.
Along with these changes, existing EV charging stations will be upgraded to accept both tap-to-pay and ChargePoint app payments. Some stations will be moved closer to accessible parking areas or spots with better cellular reception.
What’s changing
- Users will be charged $1.50 per hour, plus a $0.49 access fee per session (or $0.29 with a ChargePoint account).
- Tap-to-pay payments will be accepted without having to use the ChargePoint app.
- There will be no time limit to park in spaces with EV chargers. Currently, there is a four-hour time limit.
- Hourly rates apply for the entire duration the vehicle is plugged in, regardless of charging status. Vehicles are required to be plugged in while parked in EV charging stalls.
- Due to electrical infrastructure constraints, EV charging stations will not be available in Lot 75 (UW Hospital Ramp). Nearby Lots 74 and 76 will have charging stations.
What’s not changing
- The ChargePoint app will still be available to track, pay for and manage EV station use.
- The EV chargers will remain open to UW campus permit holders and visitors.
- Vehicles using the EV stations still need to be in paid status either with a valid UW parking permit or visitor parking payment.
Questions?
Contact Transportation Services at customerservice@fpm.wisc.edu.