Public charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States could outnumber gas stations within the next eight years, according to a recent analysis by Bloomberg Green. The analysis, based on U.S. Department of Energy data, indicates that the rapid deployment of fast-charging infrastructure could lead to this milestone if the current pace continues.
BloombergNEF data reveals that North American operators are expected to spend approximately $6.1 billion on charging infrastructure this year, nearly double the expenditure of 2023. In the past three months alone, the U.S. has added 704 new public fast-charging stations, a 9% increase, bringing the total to around 9,000.
“We’re seeing demand for fast charging skyrocket,” said Sara Rafalson, Executive VP at EVgo. “We’re continuing to build bigger and bigger stations because we need to keep up with that demand.”
Gas station operators are increasingly investing in public EV charging. Shell launched 30 new charging stations in the second quarter, while Enel, Pilot, and Flying J opened 11, 8, and 7 new sites, respectively. “We’re getting past a turning point where fueling stations and convenience stores are really seeing the value proposition,” said Sam Houston, Senior Vehicles Analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Tesla’s Supercharger network, with approximately 2,319 individual stalls in the U.S., has been at the forefront of fast-charging deployment. Although currently accessible only to Ford and Rivian EVs, Tesla is gradually opening its network to other brands adhering to the North American Charging Standard (NACS).
A recent Bloomberg analysis suggested that the reported slowdown in U.S. EV sales may have been overstated. A study by Recurrent Auto indicated that the U.S. could still reach an EV adoption rate of 50% by 2030, despite recent reports suggesting otherwise.
