EV Charging Dependability is a Problem; ACS Has the Solution

The reliability of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations continues to be a significant problem in the U.S. in 2024. Part of the issue stems from early EV charging stations being installed without a plan to address ongoing maintenance or technical support, leaving a large number of stations that don’t function properly or are completely out of service.

These issues have eroded consumer confidence and make charging anxiety the primary reason consumers are hesitant to switch to an EV. Fortunately, help is on the way.

CARB Calls Out Electrify America for Reliability Problems

In one notable example of addressing reliability problems and holding EV charging providers accountable, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) added performance standards on $200 million in settlement money it approved for Electrify America. This, after studies by UC Berkeley and J.D. Power revealed that public chargers operated by companies such as Electrify America don’t work for customers between 20 to 30% of the time.

CARB board members shared their own personal frustrations with Electrify America chargers. At a station featured in a CARB presentation, EV driver and CARB chair Liane Randolph said she requested maintenance that went unaddressed for several days.

The Federal Government Taking Steps to Address Reliability

In March 2024, The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) funded The National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX Consortium). The ChargeX Consortium is a collaborative effort between Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, EV charging industry experts, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders. The Consortium’s purpose is to measure and significantly improve public charging reliability and usability, with a deadline of completion by June 2025.

The federally funded National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, administered by the Joint Office, included a mandate that charging stations must be operable at least 97 percent of the time on an annual basis, the first ​”uptime requirement” in the U.S.

In January 2024, The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) EV Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator was released. The program offers funding for the repair and replacement of existing, non-operational, publicly accessible Level 2 and direct current fast charging (DCFC) Level 3 stations.

Automotive Charging Solutions (ACS) Provides Solutions and Service You Can Count On

ACS specializes in custom, end-to-end EV charging solutions designed to enable the evolution and growth of sustainable mobility and contribute to a cleaner future. The ACS team has a wealth of experience and offers unbeatable, reliable, and prompt service throughout the process. You can count on a seamless installation experience as well as world-class, highly responsive customer service with an ACS EV charging solution.

Contact ACS today to get a free price quote. And don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the latest EV charging and ACS news.

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