All the news about EV charging in the US

Bloomberg:

Almost 600 public fast-charging stations were switched on for US drivers in the first three months of the year, a 7.6% increase over the end of 2023, according to a Bloomberg Green analysis of federal data. There are now almost 8,200 quick-turn EV stations across the country, or one for every 15 gas stations. Tesla is responsible for slightly more than one quarter of them.

EV charging is still a bit more complicated than a fill-up, what with different charging speeds, competing standards, and rival networks, but alignment is underway.

In addition to discounts for eligible Uber Pro drivers, Revel will use anonymized Uber data to decide on future EV charging station locations to address “charging deserts,” according to a press release shared with The Verge by Uber spokesperson Conor Ferguson.

Revel CEO Frank Reig says this will help it grow its charging business in NYC and, eventually, other cities. Revel plans to add 48 public fast-charging stations near the rideshare waiting area of New York’s La Guardia Airport.

Ford EV owners are the first to get access, with the company opening up orders for complimentary NACS-to-CCS adapters starting today. And (as noticed by Electrek) next in line will be GM, Rivian, Polestar, and Volvo. The companies will also need to roll out software updates to allow Tesla’s chargers to automatically recognize their vehicles for billing purposes.

If you have one of Rivian’s electric trucks and an iPhone, you can keep an eye on the status of your charging progress a little easier with the version 2.7.0 update.

As 9to5Mac points out, support for the Live Activities feature added in iOS 16 keeps the charging information pinned on your lock screen or in the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 and 15 Pro models.

Ford CEO Jim Farley showed off the charging adapter in a post on Threads and said the company will share “more info very soon.” The CCS to NACS charging adapter is expected to start shipping to Ford EV owners free of charge this spring.

Android Authority spotted three strings of related code when it pulled apart the Android APK, including this description:

Charging stations with plug and charge let you charge more conveniently, without using your phone or charging card. You can set up plug and charge in your vehicle’s settings and payment app.

Some cars already support Plug and Charge, and there was even talk of standardizing on it in North America.

Electrek points out this Fox 32 report from Monday showing Teslas that couldn’t charge in subzero temperatures, similar to issues some drivers reported last winter.

It’s unclear if drivers failed to warm the batteries by preconditioning (EVs in Norway, for example, seem to get by somehow) or if the chargers failed, and Tesla doesn’t respond to questions. Another report from WGN News points to long lines at functioning stations and includes a service center operator telling people to park their cars inside if possible.

The company has announced that it’s building its first US-based charger production factory in Texas “in response to the growing demand for EV charging stations across North America.” LG also plans on rolling out 11kW and 175kW EV chargers, along with 350kW fast chargers in the US this year.

This report says that despite the billions in funding approved in 2021, only Ohio and New York have used them for new EV charging stations so far as states navigate environmental impact and CCS vs. NACS.

It also cites a survey finding that 80 percent of people said a lack of chargers is one of their reasons for not buying an EV, suggesting the slow rollout (we said patience would be required) could temper demand. And where chargers exist, some have found that due to unreliability, they’re not guaranteed to provide more than a shopping convenience.

Skipping the gas station is one of the most freeing aspects of switching to an EV, but sometimes people miss it for the amenities — like using those squeegees to clean their windshields while refueling.

Well, say hi to this GM Ultium-branded gas-station-looking EV charging hub in Ohio, which looks like it’s part of the recently announced EVgo and Pilot partnership. It’s got the familiar canopy, accessories, and the pull-up-at-the-petrol-pump vibe.

The nationwide electric vehicle charging network company and the Midwest superstore chain have already installed 24 charging stalls in six locations across Michigan and Ohio.

Fresh off of National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding, EVgo will provide white-label chargers to Meijer and will also manage installation, ongoing operation, and maintenance. Ohio’s $13.8 million allocation of the funding is good for 20 new locations for EV chargers, of which EVgo will handle 14.

Premium “Certified Elite” dealership locations now only need to install three AC charging stations instead of five by June 30th, 2024 — a six-month delay. They won’t need to install a DC fast charger by 2026. And required EV training costs have also been reduced.

The automaker changed the rules after some of its Illinois dealerships argued that the demands for EV sales and its certification program violated state franchise laws.

Hertz and charging network EVgo are partnering to offer EV car renters one year of discounted charging rates with no monthly subscription or charge fees.

To take advantage, EV renters can sign up online or scan a QR code at Hertz locations and set up a new EVgo account from now until November 2024. Then you can go to one of EVgo’s 950-plus stations in the US — and hope you find one that works!

After experiencing fast-charging frustration in her Mustang Mach-E, WSJ’s Joanna Stern tried connecting DC chargers to a Rivian R1T at 30 LA-area stations from EVgo, Electrify America, and EVCS. More than 40 percent of the stations had a problem somewhere, with 27 percent of the 126 charging stalls offline.

A lot of money is being spent to improve charging electric cars in the US, but broken parts, handshake issues, and payment processing are still hurdles. Opening up access to Tesla’s Superchargers and switching over to NACS may help some in the future, but this is the present.