America needs more EV charging infrastructure. Opportunity calls!
Electric vehicle sales have increased 45% year-over-year. Prices for EVs are coming down and range is increasing. You know there is a tremendous future for electric vehicles when Ford announces it will invest $11 billion over the next 5 years.
But there is a problem. There are not enough commercial electric vehicle charging stations.
According to an article from Green Car Reports, the UK has a maximum ratio of 10 EVs for every commercial EV charging station which is considered ideal. In California, which has the most EVs of any state (800,000), the ratio is 25 EVs for every 1 commercial EV charging station. The US is far behind with EV charging infrastructure, California in particular.
Many corporations are stepping forward to address this shortage. PG&E will be installing 7,500 charging stations between now and 2020. SoCal Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have similar expansion plans for EV charging stations.
Meanwhile shopping centers, parking lots/garages, government facilities, universities and large corporate employers are installing EV charging stations to meet the growing demand. But is it enough?
Clearly the answer is no. There are still long stretches of highway without high speed charging stations particularly along I-5 in California’s Central Valley and along I-15 between Barstow and Las Vegas.
Electric vehicles are only going to continue to grow in numbers as technology improves and prices come down. Will commercial EV charging stations keep up and meet that demand? Right now, the answer is no. What does the future hold?
