The United States is facing a charging challenge.
The Biden administration set a goal for zero-emission vehicles to make up half of new-vehicle sales by 2030. That initiative includes building a 500,000-site charging infrastructure by 2030 — about a tenfold increase from today.
Constructing a public charging infrastructure— with or without federal funding and largely from scratch— is a time-consuming, complicated process that requires coordination and investment across sectors.
Automakers, charging companies, retailers, utility companies and other stakeholders are coming together to develop a convenient, reliable charging map for EV drivers. They are plotting locations for chargers, partnering with dealerships, testing alternatives to standard charging and applying lessons from EV-trailblazer Tesla.
Automotive News spoke with dozens of industry participants and observers to identify the hurdles and solutions to deploying charging infrastructure. Industry players are feeling the urgency to develop a functional, accessible charging infrastructure as zero-emission goals are set and automakers electrify their lineups. An EV world is imminent. The industry must move quickly and pragmatically to ensure a smooth transition.
Developing a nationwide charging network takes coordination across industries
Fri, Apr 21, 4:56 pm
EVs could make up more than half of new cars within the next decade, but developing public charging infrastructure is a disjointed process that must be streamlined, industry experts say.
America's charging footprint
Fri, Apr 21, 4:52 pm
The U.S. has about 52,000 Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations, according to the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, but distribution across the U.S. is uneven. In California, there are more than 14,000 charging stations, but there are significant gaps in much of the central and Western U.S.
EV charger data helps decide locations
Thu, Apr 20, 7:41 pm
As the Biden administration, automakers, local governments and others pledge to install hundreds of thousands of electric vehicle chargers across the U.S., identifying the best locations is critical to expanding EV adoption and charging access.
GM partners with dealers to build an EV charging network in communities
Thu, Apr 20, 7:39 pm
The public charging infrastructure required to alleviate the consumer range anxiety that's hindering adoption of electric vehicles doesn't yet exist in many communities.
That's why General Motors dealer Tony Young was among the first in the nation to install public chargers as part of a program the automaker launched late last year.
Hosting EV chargers is a boon for retailers. For charging networks, not so much
Thu, Apr 20, 7:36 pm
Retailers view on-site chargers as a customer perk on a par with expected offerings such as drive-thrus.
While the benefits are clear for the retailers, they're less so for the public charging networks, which face a long road toward profitability for an expensive technology that drivers will increasingly use at home.
No public charger? There are options
Thu, Apr 20, 7:19 pm
Charging an electric vehicle doesn't always require expensive public chargers. Batteries can be swapped, cars can pull up to a charging pad, or a mobile charging service can come to the driver's home or business.
Tesla's key to EV adoption: Superchargers everywhere
Thu, Apr 20, 7:15 pm
During more than a decade, Tesla has carefully constructed the global Supercharger system alongside its vehicle business, giving customers a mostly hassle-free user experience and freeing them from range anxiety during road trips and long commutes.
Now the EV pioneer will open thousands of Tesla chargers across the U.S. to the general public in the next 20 months.
EV infrastructure growth demands partnerships
Thu, Apr 20, 7:00 pm
Many industry insiders liken electric vehicles and charging infrastructure to a chicken-and-egg scenario. But some say it's more like peanut butter and jelly — they have to stick together.
Too much infrastructure too soon, and charging companies could fail. Too little, and EV owners won't have enough options to charge on the road.
Legacy automakers are working with charging companies to scale reliable networks as they roll out more EVs.
Hertz EV renters should know charging ins and outs
Thu, Apr 20, 6:59 pm
Hertz is amassing what it expects will soon be the world's largest fleet of electric vehicles, which primes Hertz to give millions of motorists their first EV experience.
Automotive News reporter Pete Bigelow rented a Tesla Model 3 for two days in late March. He discovered the Hertz experience can bring both enthusiasm for EVs and apprehension over charging complications.
