NREL Report: EV Charging Surge and Tech Innovations in Q1

One of the standout findings is the continued dominance of the ChargePoint network, boasting the largest share of public EV charge points at 41.0% in Q1. Notably, Level 2 EV charge points remain a cornerstone of ChargePoint’s network composition, aligning with the broader industry trend. Similar patterns were observed across many networks, except for prominent players like Electrify America, EVgo, Francis Energy, FPL EVolution, Rivian Adventure Network, and Tesla Supercharger networks. These networks bucked the trend, with their networks predominantly composed of high-speed DC fast EV charge points.

Of these DC fast charging networks, Tesla Supercharger emerged as a leader, boasting a 60.9% share of public DC fast EV charge points during the quarter. Electrify America and EVgo also made significant contributions, capturing 12.0% and 8.5% of the market share, respectively.

The report also underscores the impact of the Station Locator’s manual data collection process on network growth. Notably, the ZEF Energy network experienced remarkable expansion at 496.2%, primarily attributed to this data collection method. Similarly, the SWTCH Energy network’s impressive growth of 239.3% was driven by its partnership with PlugIn Stations Online, leading to the installation of 100 public EV charge points across New York state.

Rivian’s networks, however, exhibited growth driven by an application programming interface (API), which updates station data nightly. This technology-enabled growth primarily reflects new installations along the West Coast, marking a paradigm shift in the way certain networks expand.

Nevertheless, not all networks experienced growth. The Tesla Destination and Volta networks, along with non-networked EV charge points, faced a decline in Q1. The Tesla Destination network’s decrease resulted from manual updates and the removal of decommissioned stations based on updated data provided by Tesla. A similar phenomenon occurred in the case of Volta’s API integration with the Station Locator, leading to the removal of decommissioned stations.

The NREL report provides valuable insights into the dynamic and evolving EV charging landscape, showcasing the various factors influencing network growth and contraction. As the adoption of electric vehicles continues to surge, the strategic developments highlighted in this report hold promise for shaping the future of sustainable transportation infrastructure.

Source: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Trends from the Alternative Fueling Station Locator: First Quarter 2023 | NREL