Xcel Energy Increases Support for HOURCAR and Evie Carshare with $500,000 Investment
Investment to expand electric vehicle carsharing programs, providing greater access to clean, affordable transportation for Twin Cities residents.
July 6, 2026 - Xcel Energy is making a $500,000 investment in HOURCAR: Minnesota’s Carshare program. This sponsorship supports the ongoing expansion of the Evie Carshare and HOURCAR Electric initiatives in the Twin Cities and beyond. Evie Carshare is a free-float carshare program across 35 square miles of Minneapolis and St. Paul, while Evie LOOP is HOURCAR’s electric hub-based carshare service.
The largest non-profit carshare service in the US, HOURCAR has seen steady growth over the last five years and has prioritized the establishment of carshare hubs in low-income multi-family developments in collaboration with Xcel Energy.
“Removing the burden and expense of car payments and insurance is incredibly important, particularly in the current economic climate,” said Amanda LaGrange, HOURCAR’s President and CEO. “As gas prices remain high, our all-electric fleet provides a vital and affordable alternative for residents, ensuring that clean transportation is accessible to everyone in our community.”
“With Xcel Energy’s increased sponsorship, we will continue to deepen and grow our popular EV carsharing services in the metro area and ensure communities of all income levels are served” added LaGrange.
Xcel Energy has invested in the Evie Carshare program and multi-family charging since 2019. At that time, the company, along with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and key stakeholders, recognized a need to expand options for customers, including renters, who don’t have access or resources to EV charging infrastructure.
“We’re proud to work closely with HOURCAR to increase access to clean transportation options in the communities we serve,” said Bria Shea, Xcel Energy’s President, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “This investment supports our vision to help everyone experience the benefits of electric vehicles—even if they don’t own an EV—and enable charging infrastructure for 1.5 million electric vehicles across our service territories by 2035.”
In June 2026, Evie Carshare surpassed 670,000 trips, with over 13,800 members. In addition, use of Minneapolis and Saint Paul’s “EV Spot Network” system of public chargers has continued to grow steadily in 2026. HOURCAR is the largest nonprofit carshare service in the country and is currently expanding the Evie Carshare home area into North Minneapolis and Saint Paul’s East Side. The Evie LOOP hub-based service is also opening new stations along Metro Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit Gold Line.
“Xcel Energy’s support has been critical to keeping the service affordable. As a direct result, 46% of trips are taken by very low-income users, which is the group most in need of affordable clean transportation options,” LaGrange said.
###
