America's EV Infrastructure Demands Reliable Solutions

The current battle for electric vehicle (EV) adoption is facing conflicting policies and strategies to solve infrastructure problems for EV drivers. There is a constant push for uniformity across the EV charging sector. Shifting individual charging practices, emerging charging networks, and increased effort around NEVI RFA/RFP processes diverge from improving the overall EV charging quality. Despite the need for increased and enhanced EV charging, the industry prioritizes practices that disregard the driver's experience.  

The Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) debate exemplifies how EV charger reliability is neglected. Top-tier automakers, including Ford and GM, are advancing the NACS standard, positioning Tesla at the center of EV infrastructure. Automakers are embracing a new standard without verifying the performance and compatibility of NACS to non-Telsa EVs – reducing accessibility and performance quality. Automakers are making announcements now, but drivers won't see changes for another year or two. Therefore, public charging will continue to be unreliable, lowering consumer satisfaction.  

A 2023 J.D. Power report revealed that about 21% of drivers experienced charging and equipment failures during 2023. The fear is that these issues will only worsen, with a growing number of EV drivers causing additional strain on the U.S. grid. Outside of technology failures, EV users face damaged screens, plugs or cords, and malfunctioning point-of-sale systems, making it difficult for consumers to depend on public charging. Consumers already understand EVs' benefits, but charging must be hassle-free to grow EV adoption nationally. The ideal fuel station for EVs is along a driver's commute for daily and long-distance trips, such as grocery stores, gyms, and fast-food locations. However, to avoid broken-down stations, EV drivers must plan to know which deployments in their commute are currently functioning, increasing the inconvenience of fueling an EV compared to a gas-driven car.  

Electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) manufacturers can improve the usability of EV chargers by minimizing issues from charger output, app, and payment failures with remote diagnostic systems, knowledgeable technical staff, and routine maintenance checks. For charging to work as a public service, it requires consistent, proactive resolutions, including smart diagnostics and routine maintenance checks. An effective charging management software (CMS) that offers comprehensive operational oversight of the deployment ensures operators can better manage the charging experience, security, and performance. Installations with remote diagnosis and troubleshooting capabilities will also optimize charger efficiency and avoid severe damage to the station that will further put the station out of use for public service. 

Additionally, solution providers and local institutions must join forces to install solutions intended for the demands of the North American electrical grid and consumers. Utilizing the correct charger for the grid will improve consumer satisfaction with public charging infrastructure – specifically, breaking down barriers for EV adoption regarding charger accessibility and decreasing "range anxiety" from malfunctioning solutions.  

America's EV infrastructure demands reliable solutions driving successful charging experiences. Alongside deploying chargers localized for the U.S. grid, solution providers and operators instituting maintenance protocols will enhance charger performance and reliability to promote EV adoption.