Lake Michigan Circuit

The Lake Michigan Circuit is a multi-state initiative involving Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana to build electric vehicle infrastructure along Lake Michigan's 1,100-mile drivable coastline to support coastal tourism and provide electric vehicle drivers a vacation route free from range anxiety.

Eligible applicants are public or private entities capable of hosting publicly accessible charging stations, meeting program priorities, and participating in an electric utility rebate program (such as Consumers Energy PowerMiDrive, Indiana Michigan Power Plugged In, or Upper Peninsula Power Company EV Charging Pilot). If the applicant is not the property owner, an executed site host agreement is required. Applicants must also coordinate with their electric utility to undergo a site assessment and obtain a letter of support.

Project eligibility is guided by Michigan State University's Electric Vehicle Charger Placement Optimization study. Charging stations must be deployed at recreational areas, hospitality businesses, and entertainment attractions located at eligible nodes designated in the Michigan Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Programs Map. Eligible activities include the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of Level 2 chargers and DC fast chargers.

To apply, applicants must confirm node eligibility on the official program map, secure property rights or site host agreements, complete utility assessments, assemble project teams including hardware/software and installation vendors, prepare draft site plans, and submit completed proposal packages following EGLE guidelines. Grants are awarded on a reimbursement basis upon project completion and documentation approval.