EV travel and adoption continues to rise year-over-year, but establishing a uniformed, accessible charging network is still an ongoing endeavor. Currently, Telsa's supercharging network is the most predominant domestic charging network in the US, serving as a backbone to EV travel as long as you have a Tesla. However, just with Telsa drivers’ usage, the charging network is already becoming overburdened.
There is no doubt that the Tesla supercharging network is an impressive system, but it’s not designed to promote accessibility and efficiency for drivers with non-Tesla EVs. The market and infrastructure must expand to support drivers beyond the Tesla audience. However, opening it up to other brands and adding cross-compatibility with non-Tesla standard vehicles would likely increase the burden on these stations to meet the increase charging demand. As all EVs are different, chargers need to be able to accommodate different varying port locations, sizing and more.
While charge anxiety remains a top hurdle for wider adoption, long-distance and road trip driving is possible with the right vehicle and network in consumer convenient locations. Typically, charger stations are deployed in gas stations or inaccessible parking lots of shopping centers that are far from their everyday stops. Apart from cheap gas station food and a close walk into a mall, most current EV locations are not suitable for drivers to recharge along with their vehicles. Tesla does a decent job of placement, but better locations apart from gas stations or rest stops, such as at gyms, grocery stores or coffee shops, would increase the accessibility of these services by matching them to the day-to-day lives of their drivers.
EV charger networks need to also account for EV drivers traveling long distances. Many current EV charging locations require distant drives from highways, which can be an inconvenience when trying to stay to a dedicated route. There’s an easy solution here, though. Many hotels are conveniently located near highway exits, which makes them the perfect location for EV travelers on the go. In fact, deployments at hotels benefit both the business and the consumer, as it drives more traffic since it is a more convenient and safer place to stop than a gas station.
For widespread EV adoption to take root, there must be increased compatibility between charger networks and vehicles and increased accessibility of charging locations for drivers. Establishing a uniform and accessible charging network is the key to broad EV implementation.