Overview of U.S. Charging Networks

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Electric vehicles (EVs) have soared in popularity as the green transportation revolution continues. However, the U.S. lags behind locations like Europe, and the country's charging infrastructure is one of the big headwinds.

According to the Department of Energy, the U.S. will need 28 million EV charging ports by 2030. Unfortunately, the country has less than 150,000 public charging ports available, indicating an overreliance on private home chargers, which may be unsuitable for millions of drivers.

The numbers alone represent the tip of the iceberg. The charging network needs to be more cohesive and functional. So, what does the network currently look like?

America’s Main Charging Networks

Today, ChargePoint enjoys the most extensive charging network, with nearly 50,000 individual charging ports. This means ChargePoint comprises around a third of public EV charging ports, but the issue is most are Level 2 chargers, requiring several hours to charge a single vehicle fully.

In second place is Tesla, with 28,000 charging ports. While they lack in overall numbers, they possess 17,000 individual Level 3 charging ports, known as DC Fast Chargers.

Other prominent players within the U.S. charging network include:

· Electrify America - https://www.electrifyamerica.com/

· EVgo - https://evgo.com/

· Greenlots - https://greenlots.com/singapore/industry/solutions/

· Tesla - https://www.tesla.com/

· Blink - https://blinkcharging.com/

It’s not difficult to see that the above list results in its own problems regarding payment, availability, acceptance, and more. This is also why 83% of EV owners do most of their charging at home.

U.S. Charging Network Compatibility

Level 3 chargers are the most practical but also the least common. California currently has five times the charging stations of New York, Florida, and Texas. So, if you’re not located in an area with lots of EVs, you might never come across a Level 3 charger.

General compatibility has historically also been a problem. For example, the Tesla Supercharger Network is comprised of proprietary charging technology. Thankfully, other networks are now switching to this charging port and providing adapters for existing vehicles, thus helping to bridge the compatibility gap.

Payment Methods

Every charging network has its own system for connecting EVs and paying for charging time. Some may allow credit card payments, whereas others mandate downloading specific apps. Older chargers, such as non-networked Level 1 chargers, may require RFID or key fobs.

According to a J.D. Power study, at least 20% of charge attempts resulted in drivers failing to connect at all.

Final Overview

Level 3 charging is the only practical option for most drivers due to their quick charging time. So, what does the nation’s EV fast-charging network look like at a high level?

Tesla offers 29% of fast-charging points nationwide, with Electrify America, ChargePoint, and EVgo providing 7,500 between them. This means fewer than 10,000 such points across the country are accessible to every type of EV. Contrasting this to the 150,000 gas stations paints a bleak picture.

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Conclusion: Simplifying EV Charging

With Bluedot, users can access over 120,000 EV charging points nationwide with a single app to find, pay, and access each point. If you are interested in learning more about the nation’s largest charging aggregator, connect with us at partnerships@thebluedot.co.

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