Top Challenge for EV Adoption
“32% of consumers were considering an EV but cited a lack of charging stations in their area as the reason they wouldn’t purchase. This will soon be the biggest barrier to EV adoption.”
This quote says a lot about the state of EVs. Magnificent, practical tech—but with a catch: the charging infrastructure, or rather, the lack thereof. Adoption has always been an obstacle for transportation; before there were gas stations across America, people rode horses because “the nearest fillin’ station was in the next town over”. It’s an understandable fear, especially when you become reliant on this kind of tech. Let’s discuss the reality of the EV gamble.
The Stark Reality: Charging Infrastructure and NACS Charge Ports
The heart of the matter is simple: not enough charge ports. It’s the Achilles’ heel of the EV industry, and it’s especially prominent in rural areas. This sentiment echoes across the globe, as potential EV owners grapple with range anxiety and the scarcity of charging options. The worry of getting stranded in the boondocks with no car, cell service, or charging station in sight is nothing to sneer at.
The Future
People need assurances in order to commit to the vision. Blindly having faith in a beautiful idea can prove to be naive, and the lack of a robust and widespread charging network is casting a shadow over the future of EV sales. Without the assurance that they can charge as easily as they currently refuel, consumers hesitate, and the wheels of change grind to a halt.
Potential Solutions: Time, Patience, and Investment
The fact is, EVs will take over—the question is when, not if. Charging infrastructure may currently be a block, but the world is witnessing a surge in public charging points—at the end of 2022, there were 2.7 million public charging points globally, with over 900,000 installed in that year alone. This marks a 55% increase over the year before.
Additionally, many of these chargers, especially along motorways, are NACS fast-chargers—meaning they’re a standardized stop-and-chug to quickly refresh your EVs battery. Government and private sectors alike are recognizing how EV infrastructure presents a tidy investment, and are beginning to explore opportunities accordingly. And when both the government and private sector gets involved, you know you should be paying attention.
The US government aims to install 500,000 public charging stations by 2030 as part of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. They’ve created policies and incentives mapping out future charging stations wired to a robust power grid. By 2030, there will be a nearly 100% chance that no matter where you are, you’ll be in range of a charger.
The Tech: EV Motors, EV Charge Controllers, and EV Batteries
The latest advancements in EV motor technology are nothing short of science fiction. We’re seeing the rise of Axial Flux motors, which are making waves with their compact design and high efficiency, with big players like Mercedes and YASA leading the charge.
Advancements on the battery front are just as promising. Future solid-state batteries pack more juice into a smaller space, promising to extend the range of EVs beyond what we thought possible. You’ll be able to charge your car in the time it takes to grab a coffee.
EV charge controllers are the resource managers of your EVs energy, and they’re getting upgrades too. We’re seeing a shift towards OCPP 2.0.1, an open-source protocol that’s spicing up the communication between charging stations and management systems. EV wireless charging is also an incredibly exciting innovation which is moving from the lab to the streets, indicating a future where charging can be done by driving over a special patch of road.
The summary is: yes, EVs can be a dicey decision if you’re smack in the middle of golden fields and big skies… but even then, the innovations in EV tech and infrastructure will soon become an offer you can’t refuse, no matter where you are. Gasoline cars will soon hold the same status as riding a horse as a mode of transportation, cool to look at, impractical in practice. It’s up to you how long you want to swim against the current.
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