While it's great news that electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular in the United States, it does pose a unique issue: EV sales are now outpacing EV charging infrastructure. The federal government and automakers have set new goals for electric vehicle sales, and now it's up to the business world and EV charging companies like Blink to provide the right number of EV chargers by 2030. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, electric vehicle sales, including plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV), increased from just over 17,000 in 2011 to 632,883 in 2021. In fact, BEVs accounted for 3.2% of the total light-duty vehicle market in 2021! There are now over 3 million total electric cars on the roads today. It’s promising to see electric vehicle sales increase, but now they need commercial EV charging stations to stay charged.
How many EV chargers are currently installed in the United States?
Using the US Department of Energy’s alternative fuel locator, we can see the US has (as of this writing):
129,598 publicly available EV charging ports spread over 50,401 public charging stations.
14,673 private charging ports over 3,743 private charging stations. (These do not include residential charging stations.)
290 planned public EV charging ports over an additional 76 planned public charging stations.
361 additional planned private EV charging ports over an additional 79 planned private EV charging stations.
Even with all these currently available and planned public and private EV charging stations, it will leave a significant shortfall for the millions of cars charging within the next decade.
How many more EV chargers does the US need?
The United States has a goal to have 50% of all vehicles sold each year be zero-emission by 2030. According to an analysis from McKinsey & Company, achieving this goal would put 48 million EVs, or 15% of all total vehicles, on the road in 2030. To facilitate this goal, the federal government’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also referred to as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), provides $7.5 billion in funding for 500,000 public EV charging stations. However, an additional half-million charging stations will likely not be enough. McKinsey analysts estimate that if the US wants to reach its goal, it will likely need 1.2 million public and 28 million private EV charging stations. That’s approximately 20 times more charging stations than are currently installed in the United States in 2023.
More than just numbers
But numbers only tell half the story. In addition to increasing the total charging infrastructure, charging stations must be equally distributed across the country for easy access to charging. Public chargers need to be:
economical
equitably distributed
appealing to use
wired to a capable power grid
This is where we come in.
How can you help grow EV charging infrastructure?
Business owners are essential to the nationwide growth in electric vehicle charging stations, and Blink Charging makes it easy. Our vision is to help electrify transportation in the US (and other countries through the Blink family of companies) to prepare for a more environmentally sustainable future. If you’re a business or multi-unit residential building owner, you can help America prepare for the future by installing EV charging stations. Whether your locations are public or private, you can help facilitate the transition to a more sustainable, zero emissions future. If you’re ready to help America make up its shortfall of EV charging stations, all you need is space (pun intended). We will work with you to take care of the details and we'll help you turn your chargers into a viable revenue stream. Not only will your business provide a needed amenity for drivers, but you can also attract new customers, increase revenue, and save money. EV charging stations are truly a win-win for businesses!
Which kinds of EV charging incentives are available?
Helping the world transition to a greener future is obviously the best incentive for installing an EV charging station. But there are also other, more immediate financial incentives, too. For example:
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program, for example, provides funding to state and local governments to, among other items, install EV charging equipment.
School districts, along with state, local and tribal governments, can apply for funding from the EPA Clean School Bus Program for the purchase of zero-emission school buses and related charging equipment.
Meanwhile, the Airport Zero Emissions Vehicle and Infrastructure Pilot Program provides funding for purchasing zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure used in airports.
The Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit provides eligible businesses with a tax credit up to 30% of the cost of equipment.
In addition to these federal programs, states offer their own incentives for buying and installing EV charging infrastructure.
To explore a full list of commercial EV infrastructure incentives in your state, visit the Blink Charging Commercial Incentives page.
20 Times More Chargers… Or Else What Happens?
The United States needs approximately 20 times more EV chargers than it has now, or else… it simply won’t be prepared for all the new electric vehicles on the road. The longer it takes to reach 1.2 million public chargers, the less ready drivers will be to purchase an EV. After all, without visible charging infrastructure, the more anxious they will be about charging. But with EV charging stations at your business, Americans will be ready to "charge on" to 2030! Ready to help the national transition to a cleaner future? The future is electric. Ask us how to get started.