The situation regarding electric vehicle charging infrastructure remains worrying in North America. In the United States, only the District of Columbia, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island currently achieve the optimal ratio of charging stations per number of electric vehicles, according to a recent report published by the groups Here Technologies and SBD Automotive.
While electric vehicle adoption is growing across the United States, 47 states still have not reached this crucial ratio.
A ratio difficult to achieve for most states
The ideal number of public charging stations varies by state, depending on road networks, population density and the rate of adoption of electric vehicles. However, the national objective is clear: an optimal ratio of 9 to 10 electric vehicles per charging station. Currently, only four territories achieve this. This imbalance could worsen as the electric vehicle market matures, requiring more robust charging infrastructure and long-term planning.
Lagging charging infrastructure in the United States
According to Robert Fisher, electrification expert at SBD Automotive, the US electric vehicle market is lagging behind Europe. This is due to varying population densities across the country, particularly within rural states like Wyoming and South Dakota, where demand for kiosks may be lower, but still essential. Furthermore, the United States could end up having more private terminals, thus relieving pressure on the public network.
A rhythm problem between EVs and charging stations
The electric vehicle industry faces a dilemma: should we first install more charging stations or sell more vehicles? A lack of charging infrastructure can dampen electric vehicle sales, while an overabundance of stations inside areas with low adoption can lead to losses for the owners of these stations.
L’Acura ZDX Type S, en California | Photo: D.Boshouwers
Disparities between States: who is progressing and who is stagnating?
A ranking of states by their EV-to-terminal ratio reveals that Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts and Nevada rank highest. In contrast, states like Idaho, Arkansas and Alaska are at the bottom of the table.
The expansion of the number of terminals saw growth of 33% compared to the previous year, driven by public and private investments. California, for example, added more than 6,000 charging stations in a single year.
Federal programs: crucial support, but slow to be put in place
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, launched two years ago, allocates $5 billion to develop a charging network across the country. However, implementation remains slow, with only 33 terminals open in six states to date. This slow pace is due to complex coordination between states and a series of regulatory approvals.
Reliability issues and charging speed: persistent challenges
Another major obstacle is the reliability of existing terminals. Within states like Hawaii and Alaska, more than 10% of public charging stations were out of service when the report was compiled. The slow speed of terminals in certain regions, notably in Michigan, also continues to be a problem, which affects the progression of the rankings of these states.
As demand for electric vehicles grows rapidly, the charging network must keep pace at an equally rapid rate. Although government support is present, challenges remain regarding the reliability, geographic distribution and speed of deployment of the terminals. In the long term, the balance between supply and demand for terminals will be a determining factor in the success of the energy transition.
The Subaru Solterra, in California | Photo : D.Boshouwers
