Post Author's Photographer By Kristin Eggen May 5, 2025

Ask the Expert Q&A with Energy Planner Paul Cutting.Q: Many of the car rental companies at the MSP airport, especially, are offering a lot of EVs at competitive rental prices, but I am hesitant to choose them because I don’t know that much about how to charge EVs in rural Northeast Iowa. How can I use this resource effectively (and in cool/cold times of year, especially) without getting stranded between charging stations?

PC: Great question. Admittedly I’m not an EV driver, nor have I ever rented one! But here are a few things you might consider as you weigh your ability to drive electric in unknown rural territory:

Battery Performance: In warm weather, most EVs perform to their rated ranges. In cold weather, ranges can be cut drastically, in some cases by as much as 50%. That car with 300 miles of rated range may only be good for 150 or 200 miles in January. So, if you’re renting from MSP and traveling to Decorah, you’ll have to do some sort of charging along the way, and you’d be wise to research your route prior to starting. There are many apps and websites to help you with this.

Research your route: Where are the chargers and do they actually work? For this, plugshare.com will be your friend, as will downloading any associated phone apps for the chargers you plan to use. Some chargers allow for payment with credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, while others require access through their phone app. Download these prior to starting your trip.

Understand the time difference between level 2 and level 3 fast charging. Level 2 chargers usually operate at speeds up to about 10kW. For example, an EV with an 80 kW battery can take upwards of 8+ hours to charge on a level 2 charger. These are perfect for destinations, like hotels, downtowns, or places you spend time at, and are commonly found in most small towns and rural areas. Plug your car in and return the next morning and it’s topped off. Decorah has many level 2 public chargers available.

Level 3 fast charging operates on a wide speed spectrum from about 30 kW to 350 kW. Not all level 3 chargers are created equal, so be sure to check plugshare.com for charging speeds. Using the same MSP to Decorah example, there’s 300 kW charging in Rochester, and 50 kW charging in Cannon Falls, Zumbrota and Preston. In Decorah, Decorah Chevy has level 3 charging with speeds of 180 kW and Alliant Energy recently installed level 3 chargers with speeds of 100 kW.

We hope this information empowers you to rent an EV during upcoming travels!

Do you have a question about home energy efficiency, renewable energy, or local energy initiatives? Maybe there’s something that’s always been confusing, or unclear to you? Submit a question to Clean Energy Q&A.


Kristin Eggen first came to the Winneshiek Energy District as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps member in 2015. Eight years later, she is thrilled to lead the grassroots clean energy movement in Winneshiek County. Kristin deeply appreciates rural communities, Northeast Iowa, community sustainability, and nonprofit management. She uses The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter methodology and graphic recording services to drive strategic conversations around community sustainability, justice, fundraising, and nonprofit health.

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