There are currently over 160,000 EV chargers in the US. That’s how much the country will need to install by 2030, according to S&P Global Mobility’s auto industry analyst.
How many EV chargers are there in the US?
S&P Global Mobility estimates that there are currently approximately 16,822 Tesla Superchargers and Tesla destination chargers in the United States, along with 126,500 Level 2 and 20,431 Level 3 charging ports.
The number of charging ports increased more in 2022 than in the previous three years, with approximately 54,000 Level 2 and 10,000 Level 3 chargers added in 2022.
S&P Global Mobility reports that registration data shows there were 1.9 million EVs on US roads as of October 31, 2022, or 0.7% of the 281 million vehicles in use.
During the first 10 months of 2022, the share of new light vehicle registrations for EVs reached 5.2%, and rapid growth will occur due to consumer demand, US government policies to encourage EV purchases such as the Inflation Reduction Act, and increased interest and investment. from the financial sector.
How many EV chargers does the US need?
S&P Global Mobility forecasts that the EV market share for new cars will reach 40% by 2030, when the total number of EVs in use could reach 28.3 million.
The group expects approximately 700,000 Level 2 and 70,000 Level 3 chargers to be deployed, including both public and limited-use facilities.
So to meet the charging needs of all these EVs, the US would need to quadruple the number of EV chargers between 2022 and 2025 and more than eightfold by 2030, even including home charging. analysts.
By 2027, analysts expect the need for approximately 1.2 million Level 2 chargers and 109,000 Level 3 chargers deployed across the country.
And if we look to 2030, assuming there will be 28.3 million EVs on US roads, in addition to home chargers, a total of about 2.13 million Level 2 and 172,000 Level 3 public chargers will be required.
Where are EV chargers going?
Demand and installation will not be evenly distributed across the 50 states. Only 35 states have signed up for federal aid under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, of which $7.5 billion will be spent on EV charging infrastructure. President Joe Biden has pledged that the federal government will pay for the installation of 500,000 chargers.
The four states with the most in-use and the most new vehicle registrations are California, Florida, Texas, and New York.
Because these states all approach emissions reductions differently — meaning California and New York prioritize it, while Florida and Texas don’t — S&P Global Mobility attributes this growth to the size of their respective markets.
With about 37% of total EV registrations and about 36% of total US light vehicle EV registrations between January and September 2022, California leads by far.
Florida is second with 7.4% of light vehicles and 6.9% of EVs in use. Texas accounts for 5.8% of EVs in use and 6.4% of light vehicle registrations.
As an example of what’s needed at the state level, Texas currently has 5,600 Level 2 non-Tesla and 900 Level 3 chargers, but S&P Global Mobility predicts the Lone Star State needs 87,500 Level 2 and 7,800 Level 3. chargers will support an expected 1.1 million EVs in operation by 2027.
Eighty-five percent of Level 3 chargers and 89 percent of Level 2 chargers are currently located in the 384 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. For Tesla owners, 82% of Tesla Superchargers and 83% of destination chargers are in MSAs.
S&P Global Mobility analyst Ian McIlravey said:
The focus on urban areas is where EVs are today, but as vehicles in service grow and consumers need to charge along their routes, distribution will need to be wider.
Graham Evans, director of research and analysis at S&P Global Mobility, said:
For mass-market adoption of BEVs, charging infrastructure must do more than keep pace with EV sales.
This should surprise and delight car owners new to electrification, making the process seem seamless and perhaps even more convenient than their petrol refueling experience, with minimal compromise in the car ownership experience.
Electrek’s Take
What the US really needs is an increased density of DC fast chargers and the strategic placement of said DC fast chargers in convenient, well-lit locations.
Having hundreds of Level 2 chargers on the interstate is not helpful. People on the go need convenient roadside fast chargers.
That’s why Tesla Superchargers are great. Anyone who has used them on the New Jersey Turnpike, for example, knows what I’m talking about. You pull right in, they’re in a prominent, well-lit area, and right next to them are food and restrooms. They are safe and comfortable. You will be on your way again in 20 minutes.
Compare that to my two-hour trip from Boston to Vermont last week in a VW ID.4. Logan Airport has 6.5 kW electric charging ports in the parking lot. They’re free and that’s nice, but you’re not allowed to leave your car plugged in while traveling.
What are you going to do with a 6.5kW charging port at the airport? Do you sleep in your car after you get back?
Airports should really provide every EV parking space with a Level 1 outlet so you can simply plug in your car while traveling. It would be a dream.
So I drove to Somerville, just a few miles from Logan, to three 150kW Electrify America charging ports. I had to put my credit card in the kiosk to get into their garage. I had to look for them. They were isolated, not near the bathroom and it was 10pm. It was a far from ideal experience. New EV charging ports need to be released to remedy this situation.
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