Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is accelerating worldwide, but public charging infrastructure is struggling to keep pace.
A white paper released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in September 2024, titled Scaling Investment in EV Charging Infrastructure: A Policy Roadmap for Cities, outlines strategies for municipalities to expand charging networks and ensure EVs become a viable, long-term alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles.
The report highlights that, while EV sales are soaring, innovation is essential for these vehicles to meet—and eventually surpass—the utility of gas-powered cars.
"While many cities have made significant progress, others face challenges providing accessible and affordable infrastructure,” Vivian Brady-Phillips, Head of Strategic Initiatives at the WEF, noted in the paper.
EV Adoption on the Rise
Once a niche part of the auto industry, EVs have seen rapid growth, driven by technological improvements, government incentives, and expanding charging networks. U.S. consumers purchased over 1.4 million EVs in 2023—a 50% increase from 2022—bringing the total number of EVs on American roads to 3.3 million by the year’s end, according to reports from Argonne National Laboratory and Experian Automotive.
Government support has also played a pivotal role. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm pointed to 170,000 public EV chargers available nationwide by January 2024, with 900 new chargers being added each week.
“These developments are part of an inevitable shift toward a thriving electric transportation sector,” Granholm said in a press release emphasizing the momentum building around EV adoption.
Challenges in Charging Infrastructure
Despite progress, the industry faces significant roadblocks. Tesla, a leader in fast-charging networks, created turbulence when it announced layoffs in its charging station installation team and plans to slow investment. Though Tesla reversed some of these decisions, CEO Elon Musk’s promise to invest $500 million in new Superchargers did little to quell concerns across the industry.
Tesla’s dominance, aided by federal funding from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, underscores the critical role private investment plays in developing a reliable charging network. However, a patchwork of efforts from automakers, retailers, and utilities leaves gaps in coverage. Without chargers as ubiquitous as gas stations, range anxiety—fear of running out of battery mid-journey—remains a barrier to wider EV adoption.
Another pressing challenge is the strain on power grids. A single EV can draw as much electricity as a home during peak energy use, making widespread EV adoption a potential burden on local utilities.
Innovations Paving the Way
The WEF report highlights several innovations aimed at overcoming infrastructure challenges and encouraging EV adoption, including battery swapping, electrified roads, and solar-powered chargers.
Battery Swapping
Battery swapping allows EV owners to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones at designated stations. This model reduces downtime and upfront vehicle costs, as drivers lease battery packs rather than buying them outright. Nio, a Chinese automaker, has led efforts in battery swapping, operating more than 2,300 stations worldwide. Though only a fraction of these stations are profitable, slow-charging at swap stations offers benefits by reducing grid stress and extending battery life.
Electrified Roads
In November 2023, Detroit became the first U.S. city to test an electrified public road equipped with inductive charging technology. Vehicles outfitted with receivers can recharge wirelessly as they travel over this one-mile stretch, developed through a public-private partnership involving Electreon and Ford. Electreon has also pioneered similar projects in Sweden, proving that wireless charging can function even in extreme weather conditions. This technology may eventually complement traditional plug-in chargers, particularly for commercial fleets.
Solar-Powered EV Charging
Solar-powered chargers present another innovative solution. Six Flags Magic Mountain in California is developing a massive solar carport system, which will provide clean energy to offset the park’s electricity usage while offering 30 EV charging stations. Similarly, cities like Raleigh, North Carolina, are deploying mobile solar chargers, enabling experimentation with charger placement without overloading local grids. These systems create microgrids, reducing dependence on external power sources and enhancing grid resilience.
Looking Ahead
Although public EV chargers are becoming more accessible—Pew Research reports that 64% of Americans now live within two miles of a public station—there are disparities between urban, suburban, and rural areas. Urban residents enjoy the highest charger availability, with 60% living less than a mile from a station, compared to only 17% of rural residents.
Despite these improvements, just 17% of Americans express confidence that the U.S. can build the infrastructure necessary to support widespread EV adoption. Industry experts agree that achieving this goal will take time, innovation, and significant investment.
A Promising Future
Though the transition to an electric future is not without obstacles, the combination of public policy, private investment, and technological innovation is steadily building a foundation for long-term success. If these efforts continue, the shift to emissions-free transportation will not only accelerate but become a permanent fixture in the automotive landscape.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who installs EV charging stations?
Anyone who has met the U.S. Department of Energy’s requirements procurement process requirements knows that there are many contractors who claim they install EV chargers, but as with any infrastructure project, hiring a certified electrical contractor, general contractor, and a private and public utility locating & mapping contractor with proven track records with EV charging installation is important.
How much does it cost to install an EV charging station? (public and private)
The base cost of a commercial EV charging station is between $1,000 and $2,500 according to information from the EV Charging Summit. However, that is merely the cost of the unit itself, and those costs change dramatically when looking at home installations.
A Level 1 private (home) EV charger will cost between $300 and $1,000, not including cost to install. A Level 2 home charger, on the other hand, will cost from $700 - $1,800, again not including installation, and commercial public units can cost $12,000 or more for commercial installation.
To help keep costs low, doing your due diligence with complete subsurface facility mapping prior to any excavation is crucial. Accurate utility locating and concrete scanning can mitigate the risk of damages caused by utility strikes and prevent accidents.
