The road to widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption is paved with exciting challenges, and topping that list is the need for a robust charging infrastructure. But fear not, for while we may face hurdles, the future is bright with rapid expansions underway in building charging networks nationwide. Though the current landscape may seem different, the journey forward leads to vast charging options to fuel our electric vehicles.

A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) called the “2030 National Charging Network: Estimating U.S. Light-Duty Demand for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure,” predicts a staggering 33 million plug-in electric vehicles cruising the roads by 2030. To keep up with this, it will take a massive charging infrastructure expansion with 28 million charging ports of various types ranging from private charging to public charging stations and AC to DC chargers.

However, the NREL’s study also paints an optimistic future, forecasting a surge in demand for faster charging solutions. By 2030, we are looking at DC chargers boasting a whopping 350 kW as the go-to technology across the national charging network.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office also shares that 92% (25.7 million) of these charging ports will be private AC charging spots. Not to be concerned, there is still room for public AC Level 2 charging ports at multifamily homes, offices, and dining spots, totaling 2.1 million units.

Interestingly, there are 33 million electric vehicles fuelled by fewer than 200,000 DC fast chargers. Unlike traditional fuel pumps, these chargers only need a fraction of the time with home charging taking the lead for most of our charging needs. But fear not, these DC chargers are vital for those cross-country journeys, and they are only getting faster.

As we gaze into the future, the forecast of 33 million electric vehicles with 90% being all-electric vehicles by 2030 signals a monumental shift. With over 15 years since the debut of modern electric vehicles, we stand on the verge of a great change. It is time to embrace the exciting journey ahead for the rise of electric vehicles has only just begun!

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