EV Charging Continues To Play Crucial Role in Industry’s Future

Futuristic, faddish, or even foolhardy. In the not too distant past, that’s probably how many Americans viewed the concept of electric vehicles. No doubt, our ancestors had the same reaction to those “motor wagons” of the late 1800s.

Their adoption was slow. After the invention of the gas-powered automobile, there were enormous hurdles. Mass production, for starters. Then there was the problem of transporting and delivering them across the country. The assembly line, the semi-truck, and the interstate highway system eventually transformed the unusual into the commonplace.

And so it goes with a developing industry. Challenges and setbacks are the norm, and the EV industry is no exception.

“Charge Anxiety” – The Biggest Hurdle       

The advantages of EVs (to both the pocketbook and the environment) are well-known, and the U.S. consumer market is steadily growing. Last year, EV sales were up 50% from 2022, with an estimated 1.46 million electric cars and trucks sold, the highest number ever, representing 7.6% of new vehicle sales.

However, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey, half of U.S. adults say they are “not likely” to purchase an EV. The primary obstacle: availability of public charging stations.

With evolving EV technology, “range anxiety” – the fear that EV batteries wouldn’t maintain enough charge to reach a destination – has now morphed into “charge anxiety,” – the uncertainty about the ability to access a charge point. Public charging stations are not equally distributed across the country, with more in large cities, fewer in rural areas, and some sections considered “charging deserts.”

The reliability factor of charging stations is also a major concern. In a recent Harvard study, EV drivers reported long lines, malfunctioning equipment, undependable software, and confusion over pricing, which is unregulated.

Now for the Good News

Public and Private Investment

Since 2020, the number of public EV charging stations has more than doubled. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the federal government has invested $7.5 billion toward building a national network of EV chargers along major highways. This includes funds for competitive grants to states and localities to fill accessibility gaps.

As of April, there are more than 62,500 public EV charging stations, with 95% of Americans living in a county that has at least one.

Beyond the public investment, GM has committed $750 million to the development of charging stations and is partnering with car dealerships and other companies.

Standardization

Much like the smartphone charging wars are being resolved, EV charging in North America is in the process of becoming standardized. The widespread adoption of Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for automobiles and passenger vehicles bodes well for the future. The NACS port is being standardized by the Society of Automotive Engineers to ensure its safety and reliability for all EV brands.

Virtually every automaker has signed on, and new cars equipped with NACS will begin rolling out in 2026.

The Combined Charging System remains the option for commercial vehicles and the Megawatt Charging System is under development for heavy-duty trucks.

Going Forward

As history proves, progress is always worthwhile, but never easy. In transitioning to a net-zero emissions world, TTI is committed to addressing the challenges of EV charging technology. Our team of transportation specialists tracks the market trends and offers the broadest inventory of quality components to provide superior solutions for the future.