As the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to surge, the reliability of charging infrastructure is emerging as one of the most critical challenges. With over 175,000 public EV charging ports now available in the U.S., ensuring consistent uptime and reliability is essential not only for maintaining driver confidence but also for supporting the broader adoption of electric vehicles.
The ChargerHelp Annual Reliability Report, published in June 2024, takes a deep dive into the state of EV charging infrastructure, analyzing over 19 million data points from various sources. This extensive report sheds light on the challenges facing the EV charging landscape, offering data-driven insights and actionable recommendations that are already influencing industry practices and policies.
In this blog, we’ll provide a detailed summary of the report's key findings, along with the recommendations for improving EV charging reliability. For a more in-depth overview, check out our YouTube summary video here.
Key Findings from the Report
True Uptime vs. Reported Uptime: One of the most eye-opening findings of the report is the significant gap between reported uptime—often claimed to be around 92%—and true uptime, which is closer to 84%. This discrepancy is largely due to software inaccuracies and outdated reporting systems that often paint a rosier picture than what drivers actually experience on the ground. This issue has been widely discussed in media outlets such as TopTech and Electrek.
Software Shortcomings: Software issues are a major contributor to EV charging reliability problems. The report highlights that 26% of charging stations suffer from issues such as ghost stations (stations that appear online but are actually offline) and zombie stations (stations that appear offline but are operational). These inaccuracies lead to failed charging attempts, eroding driver confidence. This critical problem has been covered by Canary Media and CleanTechnica.
Aging Infrastructure: The report also draws attention to the impact of aging EV infrastructure. Older stations—particularly those beyond the four-year mark—are far more likely to experience downtime, leading to inconsistent charging experiences for drivers. States with older infrastructure, such as California and Washington, D.C., are particularly affected, with higher percentages of down stations. The need to upgrade this aging infrastructure is crucial to ensure reliable performance across the network, as emphasized by Environment + Energy Leader.
Network Variability: Not all charging networks perform equally. The report reveals significant variability in reliability across different network operators. For example, four networks account for over 25% of DCFC ports nationwide but are responsible for more than 75% of down ports. This disparity impacts driver experience and highlights the importance of network accountability, a topic that Automotive News and EV Fleet World have covered extensively.
The Burden of Problem Stations: A small percentage of problem stations—just 3.5%—are responsible for a disproportionate share of downtime. These stations require multiple repairs, draining operations and maintenance (O&M) resources. Targeted solutions, such as standardized troubleshooting protocols and enhanced technician training, can significantly alleviate this burden and improve network efficiency. This issue was highlighted by The Detroit News.
Recommendations for the Path Forward
To address these challenges, the report concludes with several actionable recommendations:
Enhance Data Accessibility: Through the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), network providers and station operators can access more accurate diagnostic data, reducing the need for physical troubleshooting and improving maintenance efficiency. AMPECO is already leading the way by supporting various OCPP versions and integrating with over 70 leading charging station manufacturers.
Allocate O&M-Specific Funding: The NEVI Program has made significant strides by allocating $149 million to repair or replace non-operational charging ports, covering over 4,400 ports across 20 states. States like Colorado have also dedicated grants to support EV charging operations and maintenance, demonstrating the importance of targeted funding for infrastructure renewal.
Implement Comprehensive Warranty Coverage: Companies like ChargerHelp are setting the standard with their Reliability as a Service (RaaS) model, which offers unlimited corrective maintenance and proactive network monitoring across multiple hardware and software platforms. This approach ensures high reliability and reduces downtime.
Promote Industry-Wide Leading Practices: Expanding technician training and certification programs is essential to address the current bottlenecks. SAE International is advancing this cause with its EVSE Technician Certification, helping to build a skilled workforce capable of maintaining and repairing EV charging stations.
These recommendations provide a clear roadmap for the industry to follow. By implementing these strategies, the EV charging landscape can be transformed, ensuring higher uptime, improved reliability, and a better experience for drivers.
Watch the Summary Video
For a more detailed overview, watch our YouTube summary video here, which highlights the key findings and recommendations from the report.
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