Electric vehicle charging network operators are increasingly prioritizing profitability, reliability and operational efficiency over rapid infrastructure expansion, according to Driivz’s 2026 State of EV Charging Network Operators Report.
The report, released by Driivz, a subsidiary of Vontier, is based on responses from 300 senior EV charging professionals across North America and Europe. It found that the industry is moving beyond a phase focused primarily on deploying charging stations and toward what the company describes as “intelligent profitability” — maximizing charger uptime, utilization rates and operational performance.
According to the survey, 59% of respondents identified charger reliability and stability as the industry’s most significant challenge, marking the first time this issue has surpassed energy constraints in the report’s history. Meanwhile, 59% of operators said increasing charger utilization represents the most important driver of profitability, while 47% cited round-the-clock network availability and 43% highlighted seamless authentication as key priorities for improving customer charging experiences in 2026.
“The EV charging industry is rapidly maturing, shifting from a focus on deployment to operational intelligence,” said Shiri Levi-Laor, chief executive officer of Driivz. “Those who deliver reliable, highly utilized networks powered by real-time operational insight and seamless driver experience at scale will define the next generation of companies leading the industry.”
Levi-Laor added that artificial intelligence alone is not sufficient to transform charging operations. “AI does not go far enough; true intelligence in the charging ecosystem will come from the strength and quality of operational data driving every decision,” Levi-Laor said.
The report found that artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important across the charging sector, with 67% of operators describing AI as either “very important” or “critical” to their companies’ growth strategies. Respondents identified anomaly detection, pricing optimization and predictive maintenance as the leading AI applications expected to improve operations, with 72%, 70% and 69% support, respectively.
However, the adoption of AI-driven strategies continues to face obstacles. Nearly two-thirds of surveyed operators said data quality issues and integration challenges are limiting their ability to fully implement AI-based tools and operational processes.
As charging networks expand, customer experience is also becoming a greater area of focus. Operators increasingly view network reliability, streamlined authentication and flexible payment systems as competitive advantages. Reliability concerns were particularly pronounced among larger charging networks, where 73% of respondents cited uptime and network stability as major challenges.
Cybersecurity also emerged as a key issue in the survey. While 64% of operators described their cybersecurity preparedness as robust or very robust, many reported gaps in advanced security measures, including fraud detection, continuous threat monitoring, encryption controls and vulnerability scanning.
Driivz said it processes more than four billion data points across approximately 100 terabytes of global charging data, which it uses to help charging operators improve network reliability, optimize energy management and enhance profitability.
