Gas stations spar with utility companies, rural areas predict years of losses on chargers, spotty equipment threatens reliability: The U.S. EV charging network is a mess.
One of the biggest roadblocks to the mass adoption of electric vehicles is the troubled business model for the commercial chargers that power them.
The government is pouring billions of dollars into developing a national highway charging network. But businesses aren’t sure how they will make money, and the nascent industry looks messy.
Utility companies and gas stations are at war with each other over who will own and operate EV chargers.
Rural states say some charging stations could operate at a loss for a decade or more.
New companies that provide charging gear and services are contending with the equipment’s spotty reliability.