The Electric Vehicles Vision Group (evVG) has released its latest Vision Report, “Charging Ahead: Building Out the EV Charging Network,” examining the challenges and opportunities in developing America’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The report explores infrastructure development, consumer behavior, technology innovations and regulatory frameworks that will shape the future of U.S. EV charging.
Key highlights from the report include:
- The EV charging paradigm shift: The report highlights how EV charging fundamentally differs from traditional fueling, with most charging occurring at private locations rather than public stations. Fitzgerald, senior director of transportation electrification at SEPA (Smart Electric Power Alliance) emphasized: “charging integrates into your life rather than the other way around. You have to integrate into where the fueling infrastructure is.”
- Demand charges and economic viability: The economics of EV charging remain challenging due to demand charges that can create unpredictable costs for operators.
- Consumer misconceptions and education gaps: Despite high satisfaction rates among EV owners, widespread misconceptions persist about EV functionality and daily use. Darren Palmer, global VP electric vehicle programs at Ford Motor Company, stated: “[Consumers are] not realizing the benefit because they focus on this trip and [what] won’t work on that trip. And, they also don’t really know that for those trips, say 500 miles, you stop for 20 minutes and you have to stop anyway for comfort, get a coffee and a doughnut. By the time you’re out, it’s charged.”
- The need for public education: The group emphasized the critical need for comprehensive education campaigns to address misconceptions about EV ownership.
Read more about EV charging in the December 2024 issue of NACS Magazine article “How Data Can Power Your EV Charging Strategy.