What’s the current state of electric vehicle (EV) charging in America? Seems like an easy question on the surface. But when you consider all of the factors that play a role in the national buildout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure as well as its execution and implementation, the answer is anything but simple. At EC&M, we continue to cover the topic of electric vehicles, tracking the development, design, installation, and safe operation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and systems through many different content offerings, including a twice-monthly “EV Infrastructure” e-newsletter, web-exclusive news items, podcasts, videos, and technical feature articles. Since it’s such a hot topic for our audience, we dedicated the theme of this issue to everything electric vehicles.
In “Assessing the Reliability of EV Charging Infrastructure,” EC&M Contributor Tom Zind breaks down why the nation’s EV charging station model may be suffering from a “cart-before-the-horse” approach. His reporting suggests more drivers continue to be frustrated with charging stations that aren’t fully operational. In the piece, he writes: “The situation has sparked a flurry of research into the sources of problems, increased attention to station operation/maintenance, and even a government-funded effort to repair or improve existing stations. The actions appear to reflect a growing realization that the fundamental EV charging network concept remains a work in progress, with core issues that will have to be resolved if the grand vision for EVs is to be fulfilled.”
And it’s not just drivers who are disheartened; it’s also electricians. A recent article we ran online reiterates this sentiment, highlighting the results from an industry survey from FractalEV (a Canadian Level 2 EV charger manufacturer) that revealed 77% of electricians are frustrated by the current state of EV charger installation. Aside from skill gaps, the top issues uncovered by survey respondents were unexpected labor costs or time on job (38%) and poor manufacturer support (35%).
In other big news on the EV front, SAE International recently announced the release of the SAE J3400TM: NACS Electric Vehicle Coupler Technical Recommended Practice (RP), a major milestone in the advancement of EV charging infrastructure. The SAE J3400 RP establishes a robust framework for EV charging in North America, including general physical, electrical, functional, safety, and performance requirements for the rollout of the industry-developed standard later this year.
Make sure and check out all of the EV articles highlighted in this issue, all of which cover an array of topics integral to the ever-changing evolution of EVs, including:
- An inside look at how to build a robust charging network, focusing on the importance of EV infrastructure maintenance and written by Theo Brillhart of Fluke.
- Comparing the best and worst states for EV charging in the United States, Randy Young of BriteSwitch reveals a stark contrast in progress from one state to another.
- In this month’s cover story, Freelancer Tim Kridel provides an excellent overview of the challenges and opportunities electrical contractors face in the maturing EV charging market.
- Don’t miss thoughts from Corey Hannahs, senior electrical content specialist at NFPA, on why the use of applicable codes and standards is so critical for electrical professionals tasked with installing and maintaining EV charging infrastructure.
- Finally, don’t miss “Getting EV Charging Infrastructure Projects Off the Ground.” Written by Joe Cappeta, director of technical applications for energy transition at Eaton, this comprehensive piece examines key considerations for commercial, industrial, and fleet applications as well as offers a checklist for EV charging infrastructure success. As Capetta notes in his article, “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be in the electrical industry.”
We couldn’t agree more. You can bet EC&M will be there every step of the way to research, report on, and relay the most important technical content and trends in the EV arena.
