Summary
- EV numbers in the US have increased significantly, with over 3.1 million registered EVs, a 114% increase from 2023
- Nevada ranks in the top 10 for highest percentage of electric vehicles, but ranks in the bottom 10 for the number of chargers available
- Frustrations among EV drivers in Nevada are growing due to a lack of charging infrastructure, leading to long wait times and critical bottlenecks
- Thieves have targeted EV charging stations, stripping copper from charging cables and taking chargers out of service
- The 2024 US EV Charging Station Report by Zutobi highlights the growing gap between the number of EVs and available chargers, with charging infrastructure only growing by 25% during the same period.
Article
A new study has found that while the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in the US is increasing, the number of charging stations needed to support them is seriously lacking. Nevada, which now ranks in the top 10 for the highest percentage of EVs, is in the bottom 10 when it comes to the number of charging stations available. This lack of infrastructure has led to frustrations for EV drivers, with long wait times and critical bottlenecks at charging stations. In some cases, altercations and fights have even broken out over access to chargers.
The 2024 US EV Charging Station Report by Zutobi revealed that there are now over 3.1 million registered EVs in the US, a 114% increase from 2023. However, the growth of charging infrastructure has only been 25% during the same period. In Nevada, there are 47,361 registered EVs, making up about five percent of all vehicles in the state. Despite the high number of EVs, Nevada ranks 43rd for EV chargers, with only about four charging stations per 100 EVs. This lack of infrastructure has created long wait times and frustrations for EV owners looking to charge up.
EV drivers in Nevada have expressed their frustrations with the current state of charging infrastructure. One driver mentioned that at a specific charging station in Las Vegas, there is often only one charger available with six cars waiting to use it. This can result in hours of wait time just to charge an electric car. Additionally, EV charging stations in the Vegas Valley and across the nation have been targeted by thieves who strip copper from the charging cables, further exacerbating the shortage of chargers.
The lack of charging infrastructure in Nevada is a significant issue that needs to be addressed as the number of EVs on the road continues to increase. Without an adequate number of chargers, EV owners will continue to face long wait times and frustrations when trying to charge their vehicles. This can create bottlenecks at charging stations and lead to altercations between drivers, as seen in some cases where fights have broken out over access to chargers.
Efforts are being made to address the shortage of charging stations in Nevada and across the US. However, more needs to be done to ensure that there are enough chargers to support the growing number of EVs on the road. As the demand for electric vehicles continues to rise, it is crucial that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support them and provide a convenient and reliable charging experience for EV owners. By investing in more charging stations and addressing the issues of theft and vandalism, Nevada can improve the charging infrastructure for EVs and make it easier for drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles.
Read the full article here
