Building and sustaining reliable public EV charging in the United States


 A significant reliability problem is emerging in the charging infrastructure needed to support the electric vehicle (EV) transition in the United States. EV drivers are frequently unable to charge their vehicle successfully when they arrive at a charging station, a problem that threatens to undermine confidence in EVs and slow EV adoption. These problems originate in a complex ‘open’ ecosystem where vehicle and charging technologies are still maturing, challenging unit economics make it hard for charge point operators to invest adequately in maintenance, and many faults are difficult to diagnose remotely. The substantial investments into EV charging being made by the US government threaten to be squandered if the reliability of existing and new charging stations isn’t improved. Deliberate improvement effort between EV charging stakeholders is needed, not just performance standards and hope.