California Needs More EV Chargers to Keep Up with Demand

"Californians are switching to electric cars in record numbers, putting the state on track to surpass its goal of having 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025. But the plug-in infrastructure needed to support that switch is patchy," writes Dustin Gardiner.

Estimates show that about 600,000 plug-in electric vehicles and just over 40,000 charging ports are in the state now. To support 1.5 million vehicles in the next five years, California would need 250,000 charging ports. But current funding would still leave the state with 33 percent fewer ports than needed to support its vehicle target goals.

Advocates say the issue is also one of equity. For example, concentrations of chargers are located in higher-income communities. "[Gil] Tal said the state will need to more aggressively build public chargers to eliminate disparities in charging infrastructure for people who live in apartment buildings, low-income communities and rural areas," notes Gardiner.