The United States is experiencing a shortage of electric vehicle (EV) chargers as the number of EVs on the roads continues to grow. While EV adoption has increased in recent years, the infrastructure to support these vehicles has not kept pace.
In 2016, there was one EV charger for every seven electric vehicles in the U.S. This ratio has now widened to one charger for every 26 EVs, more than double the global average of 11 cars per charger. This shortfall places the U.S. behind other countries such as Japan, France and China in terms of charging convenience.
Charging anxiety remains one of the primary barriers to widespread EV adoption. Recognizing this challenge, the Biden administration pledged $7.5 billion in 2021 to build more fast chargers. Despite this substantial investment, progress has been slow. Nearly three years later, the funds have resulted in the creation of only seven charging stations and 38 individual chargers.
However, there may be a silver lining in this gradual buildout. One significant issue in the U.S. is the lack of standardization, with different EVs using connectors that are not universally compatible with all chargers. This is set to change as many automakers have committed to making their vehicles compatible with Tesla’s Supercharger network.
This standardization could turn the slow expansion of charging infrastructure into an advantage, ensuring that by the time the new chargers are fully deployed, most EVs will be able to use them.
Officials at the International Council on Clean Transportation remain optimistic, believing that the U.S. is on the right path to meeting its charging infrastructure goals. They project that over the next eight years, sufficient infrastructure will be in place to meet the needs of American EV drivers.