Charging Infrastructure in the US: What to Expect in 2023

Electrify America DCFC Stations, Jan. 2022. Credit: sheilaf2002 -stock.adobe.com

As EVs continue to rise in popularity, the charging infrastructure in the US must keep up as demand grows. We can expect to see significant developments in 2023 as more and more companies look to increase the production of electric cars. In this article, we will discuss the current state of public charging, what we can expect in the future and the challenges the industry faces as it rolls out.

Current State of the Charging Infrastructure in the US

As of January 2023, there were approximately 160,000 public charging stations in the US. With growing demand and pledges by the Biden administration, this figure will definitely grow significantly in the coming years.

Here are some critical facts about the current state of charging:

• Most public charging stations are Level 2 chargers, with roughly 125,000 in operation and they can fully charge a vehicle at slower rates, typically in around 4-8 hours, depending on the battery size.
• DC Fast charging stations, which can charge a vehicle in as little as 20-30 minutes (or less), are less common but are becoming increasingly prevalent.
• California has the highest number of EVs in operation, closely followed by New York, Florida and Texas. Around 37% of all EVs in operation in the US are registered in California.
• Due to the US being such a vast country, there are large parts of it, mainly in rural areas with little to no charging infrastructure. (ie. the midwest and northern mountain states)

The public charging infrastructure is very much in its infancy, and there is still significant room for growth. As more and more consumers switch to electric vehicles, it will be crucial to continue to expand and improve the charging infrastructure to meet their needs.

The Future of Public EV Charging

The charging infrastructure is expected to accelerate at a similar rate to the production of EVs. There are a number of charging companies and network operators (like Electrify America, EVgo, Blink, and others) investing billions of dollars into expanding affordable EV charging solutions, and these investments will increase in the coming years.

Major automakers such as Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen have also made major investments, with plans to invest billions more into increasing their production of electric vehicles and have formed partnerships with network operators to improve consumer access to the charging infrastructure.. By having these companies invest in the charging networks, we expect to see more accessibility for EV owners across all 50 states.

The efforts to build out the needed charging infrastructure aren’t limited to the private sector either. Recent announcements by the Biden Administration have committed many billions of federal dollars to accelerate the plans already in place.

Challenges Facing Charging Infrastructure Development

While the development of the charging infrastructure in the US is progressing rapidly, there are still numerous obstacles that need to be overcome before you will have tens of millions of EV’s on the roads.  Some of the more pressing challenges include:

Cost - It’s no surprise that purchasing and installing charging stations, and operating and maintaining them can be expensive. For some, the price may be too high and this will slow the growth of the industry.

Permitting and Regulations - The permitting and regulatory requirements for installing charging stations can vary widely from state to state, which can be a real problem when you are trying to roll out charging points across the whole of the US, adding valuable time and cost to the process.

Conclusion

In the absence of substantial investment and advancement in the US charging infrastructure, a widespread shift to electric vehicles is uncertain at best. It is essential to have this framework in place before the number of EVs on our roads surges to record level. Encouragingly, automakers, charging providers, and the government are collectively pouring billions of dollars into enhancing the infrastructure nationwide. This is a positive indication for the gradual elimination of internal combustion engine vehicles over the coming decades, ultimately paving the way for a future dominated by electric cars.

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About the Author

Callum Russell is a passionate electric vehicle owner from the UK. He is the founder of Charging At Home, a website dedicated to educating people about the benefits of electric vehicles and providing guides that focus on charging at home.

​As a Nissan Leaf owner, Callum has firsthand experience with electric vehicles and understands the challenges and benefits of owning one. He is committed to promoting sustainable transportation and empowering others to make the switch to electric vehicles. Through his writing, Callum aims to share his knowledge and expertise with others and make electric vehicle ownership more accessible to everyone.