A lack of access to charging infrastructure is holding back EV adoption in many US cities.
Writing in PC Mag, Emily Dreibelbis, highlights a paradox: while many electric vehicles are designed for urban environments, “Early adopters are primarily wealthy, single-family homeowners who can power up on private chargers versus those in rental property garages.”
Dreibelbis points out that by 2030, 60 percent of EVs will be in suburbs and “92% of chargers nationwide will be in single-family homes, according to a June 2023 DOE report.” The latter statistic reveals a major reason why urban Americans are less likely to buy electric cars: a lack of charging infrastructure.
[F]or now, EVs are stuck in the suburbs thanks to public charging limitations and a car culture where bigger means better.
The lack of accessible EV chargers in urban areas means urban dwellers can’t benefit from their advantages in the very places they would be most efficient. “When it comes to charging in urban areas, Europe has a few tricks the US hasn't embraced yet, such as converting existing light poles to charging stations. They're BYOC (bring your own cord); drivers pull up and plug in with their own equipment.”
Until urban infrastructure catches up, the suburbs will play a key role in EV adoption, Dreibelbis writes. “They prove that when charging is easy and available, and the driver considers the vehicle affordable, people love EVs.”
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