By Eric Murphy
As state DOTs continue to build out an extensive network of electric vehicle chargers, those chargers also need to work consistently. Charging reliability isn’t always fully in a DOT’s control, and many agencies have only recently taken on responsibility for charging infrastructure. Even so, DOTs can still adopt a “fix it first” approach, as some do with their roadways, prioritizing keeping chargers functional as they develop their public networks. Doing so can accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, often a key piece of DOT sustainability goals and climate targets.
Maryland’s DOT has been addressing the reliability issue by building relationships with other state agencies like its Public Service Commission to find possible solutions. Morgan Ellis, who leads the agency’s EV and climate programs, noted these efforts are in the early stages on a recent webinar hosted by Harvard University’s Salata Institute, but said “that deeper collaboration and coordination across state agencies is absolutely essential.”
One in seven electric vehicle owners had an experience where they couldn’t successfully charge last year, according to a report by J.D. Power, with higher rates on the West Coast. While that number is slightly better than in 2024, customer satisfaction with public charging also took a slight dip compared to previous years.
DOTs using federal NEVI funds to build their charging networks could have more of their public reputation tied to effective EV charging development going forward. That makes a “fix it first” approach to keep chargers functional all the more important.
For drivers who want to switch to an electric vehicle, there are already barriers. The price of buying a new or used EV can be prohibitive for many, and new federal policy has eliminated subsidies that offset some of those costs. And while home charging is generally cheaper than refueling with gasoline, fast charging for EVs is more expensive than gas in almost every state. Arriving at a charger only to find it out of service can put people off electric vehicle travel entirely.
Building out an extensive network of public EV chargers is great for reducing “range anxiety,” the worry that EV drivers have that they will run out of charge without a station nearby. Ensuring those chargers work is just as important as having a dense network. DOT collaboration with utilities, regulators, other state agencies, and private actors to make the EV charging network more reliable can help push the transition to electric vehicles forward.