How Many EV Chargers Are There in the U.S.?
Potential buyers often cite concerns about the availability of public chargers as one of the reasons they’re reluctant to make the leap to an electric vehicle. Drivers are used to finding gasoline when and where we need it – and want the same convenience with an EV. And while charging infrastructure still has a ways to go to keep up with growing sales of EVs, recently released data from the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation shows that the public charging network is growing rapidly. Indeed, between January 2021 and January 2024, the number of available charging ports grew from just over 100,000 to over 180,000.
This growth will help alleviate one of the reasons many consumers have resisted making the move to an electric vehicle. Studies from J.D. Power and others show that many potential EV owners are worried about access to public charging, even if the vast majority of them are likely to charge at home overnight. While almost any EV has enough range to meet our daily driving needs, we want to know that we can take a longer trip – and be assured that there’s a convenient, high-speed charger along the way if needed. Fortunately, data from the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) shows that the number of charging stations in the U.S. is growing rapidly – in fact, in less than a decade, there will be more charging stations than gas stations.
That’s great news for existing electric car owners, as well as those considering an electric car; more ports means more convenience. More new stations make long-distance travel easier, and more ports at each station also mean it’s far less likely that you’ll need to wait to access a charging port on the go.
How Many DC Fast Chargers Are Available?
Breaking down the numbers, the greatest percentage increase in terms of EV charging is in Level 3, or DC fast chargers. These chargers, which provide the quickest charge so you can plug in, have a coffee, and be on your way during a road trip, are typically located in highly-travelled areas. The federal government’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program has provided significant funding to providers installing charging stations within one mile of interstate freeways.
Tesla, a company that for a long time only provided access to its high-quality Supercharger network for its own drivers, recently signed deals with numerous automakers, in part to access some of the federal infrastructure money; that means that the company’s 13,000-plus Superchargers can make electric driving more convenient for more than just Tesla owners. In total, there are now over 43,000 Level 3 chargers available to EV drivers, with more being added every day.
Over 65,000 Public Chargers in the U.S.
The Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator now shows a total of over 65,000 public EV chargers, with almost 180,000 charging ports – almost double the number of a couple of years ago, with fast chargers representing a much greater percentage of the overall mix – over 35,000 ports, with most new ports having a maximum output of 350 kW or more. That’s enough to charge an EV from 10 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes.
Usage of public high-speed charging is increasing, as well. Charging stations need to have their cords connected to an EV at least 15 percent of the time to turn a profit, according to Stable Auto, a charging network consultant quoted by Bloomberg; utilization eclipsed 18 percent in 2024, meaning that high-speed charging is becoming a profitable business – attracting more companies into the space, increasing charging availability, increasing competition, and ultimately benefitting EV drivers.
Where Can I Access Level 2 Charging?
Across the U.S., the majority of publicly-accessible EV chargers are Level 2. Similar to the type of chargers you would use at home, Level 2 chargers operate on a 240-volt connection and will take several hours to fully charge an electric vehicle. While not a convenient option for quick charging on a road trip, they are significantly more economical, and are the perfect option for a top-up at locations where drivers have some “dwell time,” like shopping malls, grocery stores, office buildings, and public car parks. Over 140,000 Level 2 chargers are now available to American EV drivers.
The Joint Office also lists a total of just under 900 Level 1 plugs, which run on a 110-volt connection. While useful in a pinch to add a few miles of range, these chargers are not really a good option for EV owners looking to gain much range. They are, however, useful for drivers of plug-in hybrid vehicles that might be parking their car for a couple of hours.
Expanding EV Charging Infrastructure
While the public EV charging network has grown a lot in the last couple of years, it is set to grow even more quickly between now and 2030. The U.S. government has set aside billions to help fund the installation of a total of 500,000 chargers across the country by then – with a focus on high-speed chargers that make long distance driving more convenient. 23 states have already awarded agreements to fund more than 550 charging stations with at least four DC fast chargers, and 36 more have released their first round of requests for proposal.
Even as the public charging infrastructure continues to expand, the overall infrastructure for EV charging in the U.S. is improving, as well. For many EV owners, charging at home is both the most convenient as well as the cheapest option for charging – overnight electricity rates mean fully charging an EV can cost just a few dollars.
In a sense, every driveway and garage connected to a private residence is part of our EV charging infrastructure – indeed, those garages and driveways will represent the vast majority of the chargers we’ll use. But the continued growth of public charging means that drivers who live in shared accommodations, park on the street, or don’t otherwise have home charging access, will also be able to confidently make the switch to electric.
EV Sales are Increasing, Driving Demand for Charging
While there has been a lot of doom and gloom in the media recently about softening demand for electric cars, the reality is that EV sales continue to grow year over year – and if you remove Tesla sales, which are shrinking, the EV growth curve is still healthy. More EVs on the road means more demand for fast charging. Couple that with generous government incentives to build EV charging infrastructure – the federal government’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program has set aside $5 billion to support new charging within a mile of freeway exits – and the growth in EV charging has been massive.
In the first six months of 2024 alone, over 1,300 public Level 3 fast chargers came online, and another 550 are slated to be completed before the end of the year. That’s on top of 1,100 high-speed stations that came online in the last six months of 2023.
Gas Station Numbers Declining
As EV charging infrastructure grows by leaps and bounds – as it will have to in order to keep up with the growth in EV sales – the number of gas stations in the U.S. is declining. In fact, the number of gas stations in the U.S. peaked in 1994, at 202,800. In 2024, according to the American Petroleum Institute, there are 145,000 fueling stations in the U.S.
While that’s a lot more fuel pumps than EV chargers, industry estimates show that the growth in EV charging will only accelerate – and that eight years from now, the number of public EV chargers will actually eclipse the number of gas stations. In fact, a number of fuel retailers are now offering EV charging alongside their gasoline pumps and convenience stores. Shell is one major mover in the market, having recently opened an additional 30 charging stations in the last couple of months. Plus, other businesses near high-traffic areas are starting to open EV chargers as an additional line of business – you can count Walmart, U.S. Bank, 7-Eleven, and others in that list.
Conclusion
As EVs continue to become more affordable, and public charging access increases, making the switch to electric is going to become easier and easier. Every year, more drivers will be able to enjoy the benefits of going electric.
