Electric Vehicles (and EV Chargers) are Here to Stay: Infrastructure Upgrades and Consumer Demand Fuel Continued Investment

Electric vehicle (EV) funding has been a hot topic this year, leaving many organizations unsure of what the future holds for EV charging infrastructure.

Political discourse aside, there’s an undeniable fact: First-generation EV chargers are in dire need of replacement. And with roughly 3.3 million EVs on the road in the U.S. today (with that number expected to continue to rise), upgrading and expanding reliable EV charging infrastructure has never been more urgent. 

Outdated EV Chargers are Begging for Upgrades

The reality is, a lot of existing EV charging infrastructure is falling apart … literally. Messy, tangled cables, rusting bases and failing, unreliable equipment are all too common. The first-gen chargers weren’t built to last, and it shows.

Why? Because the first wave of EV charging was all about speed – install as fast as possible and worry about quality later on (or not at all). Sadly, property owners and businesses are left dealing with the hassle and headache of these outdated chargers, which may ultimately be deterring potential customers.

With so many of the original EV chargers reaching their expiration date, now we’re at a crossroads: What does the future of EV charging look like? If you ask us, the goal isn’t simply to make EV chargers functional. (That should be a given.) Rather, it’s about rethinking and re-engineering what EV chargers can be. 

Better technology, better lighting, better durability and a better overall user experience are the trademarks of the new second-generation EV chargers. These modern EV chargers are integrated solutions that combine utility, security and branding into a strategic business asset that adds value in more ways than one. 

EV Adoption Continues and State Regulations Tighten

As consumer confidence in EVs grows and prices drop, adoption is increasing. Even with some economic and geopolitical speed bumps, industry experts predict a steady rise in EV sales. And where there are more EVs, there’s a greater demand for reliable charging infrastructure – a reality businesses can’t afford to ignore.

While some companies still view EV charging as optional, drivers are making their preferences clear. They want reliable charging at home, at work and on the go – but many existing commercial properties lack the infrastructure to meet that demand.

At the same time, state and local governments are taking action. While federal incentives and funding have played a role in accelerating EV adoption, it’s state-level mandates that are making EV charging infrastructure a requirement rather than a perk.

Oregon, for example, mandates that 20% of parking spaces in new commercial buildings be EV-ready, with similar policies in states like California, Washington, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. This shift mirrors another in our recent history: the evolution of ADA-compliant parking spaces. What started as a local requirement is now standard in every parking lot across the country.

The bottom line? Businesses need to act soon – either by upgrading their existing infrastructure or installing modern EV chargers. Aging, unreliable chargers are failing, consumer demand is rising and state regulations are reshaping parking lot requirements. The longer businesses wait, the more they risk falling behind, both in customer experience and compliance.