Debate Over Utility Ownership of Fast Chargers Hinders U.S. Electric Vehicle Transition, Study Reveals Urgent Need.

The transformation of U.S. transportation to electric vehicles requires a massive deployment of fast chargers, which is being slowed by a debate over whether utilities should own and operate charging facilities. To grow today’s estimated 10% of new light duty zero emission vehicle sales to the national 2030 target of 50% will require a change “unprecedented in the history of the automotive industry,” a June 2023 National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL, study reported. Utility investment can accelerate the deployment ofFast chargers and cost recovery for infrastructure development based on planning is key. However, utility cost recovery means the rates of non-EV owners, including lower income customers, would subsidize higher income EV owners. Policy battles between utility ownership and operation of chargers are still in dispute, with advocates for and against utility ownership agreeing that the utility role is necessary to meet the coming need.