During this current summer, Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, decided to go on a four-day electric vehicle road trip from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Memphis, Tennessee. The objective of this journey was to promote the Biden administration’s significant investment in green energy and electric vehicles (EVs). However, the trip heightened the challenges that are accompanied with the current state of EV charging infrastructure in the United States.
Granholm, a former governor of Michigan and a long-time electric vehicle advocate, aimed to showcase the potential of clean energy and the transition to electric vehicles. During her town hall stops, she passionately exemplified the rapid changes in transportation, using a historical comparison of New York City in 1900, where a single car was surrounded by horses and carriages. “Things are happening fast. You are in the center of it. Imagine how big clean energy industries will be in 13 years,” she stated to an audience in South Carolina, highlighting the economic benefits and job creation associated with this transition.
Despite her exuberance, Granholm and her entourage were faced with unexpected challenges. At one point, while attempting to charge in Grovetown, Georgia, they found that the charging station was not well-structured to handle their needs. With only four chargers available, one was broken, and others were in use. In a bid to reserve a spot for Granholm, an Energy Department staffer parked a gas-powered vehicle by a working charger, which further led to frustration from a family waiting to charge their own electric vehicle. The situation rose to the point where the family called the police, stating that it is the frustrations many EV drivers encounter.
The incident in Grovetown emphasizes a bigger challenge, which is the fact that the current EV charging infrastructure is not robust enough to support the rapidly increasing number of electric vehicles on the road. While Granholm’s trip was carefully mapped out, it was obvious that the availability of high-speed chargers, particularly in the southeastern United States, were still lacking. Many drivers are hesitant to switch to electric vehicles due to concerns about the accessibility and reliability of public charging stations.
According to J.D. Power, the challenges faced with using public chargers are the number one reason potential EV buyers pause to make the switch, even more than about pricing. Granholm acknowledged this issue, stating, “Clearly, we need more high-speed chargers, especially in the South.” More so, the Biden administration are planning on investing $7.5 billion to build more public chargers, hoping that they will be seen along major highways soon.
The road trip experience has shown that many existing chargers are outdated and not fast enough to meet the needs of newer electric vehicles. While the initial standard for DC fast chargers was 50 kilowatts, a lot of newer models are designed to charge at least three times faster. This variance can lead to longer wait times for drivers, especially as the number of electric vehicles increases daily.
Another aspect that poses a concern is reliability. On Granholm’s trip, she found that some chargers non-functional, which, in turn, led to delays and frustration. J.D. Power stated that non-Tesla drivers often leave charging stations without charging due to the busyness the encounter or malfunctioning chargers. To tackle this challenge, the federal government has ordered that chargers receiving federal funds must be operational at least 97% of the time.
Amidst these challenges, Granholm’s team was able to charge in every town they visited, and the overall experience was positive. One Energy Department staffer mentioned, “I think two days in, I would totally buy an EV. Like, it would be pretty easy to do a road trip.” More so, the cost of charging was way lower than gasoline, as they amassed only $35 in 770 miles during the trip.
Granholm’s road trip is proof of a microcosm of the larger transition to electric vehicles in the United States. While the future of a greener future looks brighter, the current infrastructure must evolve to support this vision. As Granholm mentioned, “Ultimately, we want to make it super-easy for people to travel long distances.” It may be a difficult path to thread, but with continued investment and innovation, the dream of a seamless electric vehicle experience will surely be a reality.
The journey of promoting electric vehicles is not just necessarily about the cars themselves, but also about creating a reliable and accessible charging network. As the Biden administration continues to push this to the forefront, the lessons learned from Granholm’s road trip will be essential defining the future of electric vehicle travel in America. The road to a greener future is one that is not devoid of challenges, but with determination and investment, a more sustainable and efficient transportation system can be achieved.
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