Explore federal, state, and local regulations, laws, ordinances, permits, orders, and other legislative updates from the EV charging industry.&nbsp;

Federal & State Policy 

The first EV charging infrastructure funds approved

Mass media and social media continue to repost Joe Biden's words at the North American International Auto Show: "The great American road trip is going to be fully electrified."
We already know about the administration's ambitious plan to build 500,000 electric charging stations across the country, but are we ready and prepared to build an infrastructure of this scale? The project looks achievable, especially after setting specific milestones divided into realistic deadlines. We have the money, resources, and potential to commit to the Net Zero Protocol fully. But if we dive deeper, the picture doesn't look that optimistic.

One of the targets set by the White House is to have 50% of all new cars electric by 2030. On the one hand, according to the latest statistics, we hit 5% of EVs on the road mark, and people are finally ready to embrace this new era. On the other hand, most refuse to buy an electric car because of range anxiety and the lack of a steady and reliable charging infrastructure.
Our administration tries to persuade people to buy electric vehicles with incentives and tax credits, some of them mounting up to $4,000-$7,500. The only thing left to accelerate EV adoption is building more commercial car charging stations, so EV drivers don't have to deal with range and charge anxiety.

The roadblocks to developing electric commercial charging stations

Currently, America has approximately 50,000 public electric chargers, but we need 500,000 of them. We don't just need the numbers - we need the power. Most EV charging stations must be Level 2 and DCFC chargers to deliver fast speed and high-density power output.&nbsp;
The good news is that the first round of $1.5 billion was unlocked recently for all states for deploying new chargers along the highways. Now, the state and municipalities have to determine how to divide this money and start building the EV infrastructure our country needs.

How do we start adding commercial electric charging stations?

We've compiled a list of daily challenges states, and private entities face to achieve these goals. The first issue is who will be responsible for building the chargers. The governments don't have the workforce and resources to install multiple charging stations alone, so private entities have to play their part in installing commercial charging stations.
For this reason, businesses can benefit from local rebate and incentive programs that can cover up to 90% and sometimes 100% of the purchase and installation costs. But the municipalities have an essential role in facilitating this process. Some cities, such as Columbus, Honolulu, and Atlanta, passed the "EV readiness" ordinance, which mandates all new parking spaces to provide EV charging ports proportionate to the total number of parking spots.

Who is responsible for building the EV charging project?

We have already established that cities and states don't have the necessary number of available public chargers. It means most people charge their electric cars at home, but renters also require easy charging access. We need car chargers in multifamily dwellings, high-density populated locations, rural communities, and over large territories all other the country. We definitely need a lot of EV chargers, and our country works hard to accelerate their construction.

A diversity of spaces need EV charging installations 

Remember our earlier statement about these goals being achievable for our country? They are true. We have much to figure out and work on, but our scientists and EV charging manufacturers continue to improve charging technologies. We can be proud of creating street-side charging networks (that charge from streetlamps), developing new ideas for charging electric cars on the roads using magnetizable concrete technology, and improving bidirectional charging systems (that can deliver the energy back from electric cars to the grid). Our community contributes with hard work, technology, and innovative ideas to build the EV infrastructure and achieve great goals by 2030-2035.&nbsp;
"The more the community has input on where these chargers go, how they're used, and how they're designed," said Melendez Martineau, the Policy Manager at Plug-in America, "the better they're going to serve the community."
Do we have a long road ahead? Sure we do. Do private and public entities need to collaborate and work on overcoming these issues? Of course, they do. Are we ready to achieve all the project's milestones? We are convinced that we are, and we can. Let's speed up EV adoption and help our country achieve the Net Zero Protocol goals.

America knows how to develop multiple EV charging solutions

<ul>
<li>White House approved the first round of funding for EV charging infrastructure and distributed $1.5 billion;</li>
<li>One of the targets set by the White House is to have 50% of all new cars electric by 2030;</li>
<li>These funds will help businesses by providing incentive programs that can cover up to 90% and sometimes 100% of the purchase and installation costs and contribute to the construction of 500,000 public chargers.</li>
</ul>

White House approved the first round of funding for EV charging infrastructure

Find the latest technological innovations from Tesla, strategic plans, current news, and expected EV charging developments. Learn more about the perks of owning a Tesla car and the future trends in the Tesla industry.

Tesla Drivers

 Tesla will become a successful EV charging company

Today, the world's economic situation stops people from investing and makes them reevaluate their finances. Everyone, from big corporations to small businesses, meticulously plans their next moves and doesn't rush into uncalculated investments. Stocks are crashing, and Tesla seems to register a 50% stock drop compared to the beginning of 2022. But one of its main investors, Ron Baron, doesn't worry and is very optimistic about the company's bright future.

According to this year's survey organized by Kelley Blue Book, people's interest in Tesla is fading, but there are valid explanations for this phenomenon. If we compare the number of Teslas sold in the past 5 years annually, side by side, we would see that the numbers are steadily growing. Tesla's Superchargers Network of electric car chargers is expanding across the country and winning over other network operators, which means - Tesla still should be a popular choice among Americans.
On the contrary, Tesla is still a popular choice, but the financial instability that hit our country this year has created uncertainty in people's lives. Until recently, Model 3, Model S, and Model Y were among the most popular luxury car brands. However, the numbers in the third quarter of 2022 are dropping significantly, leaving only Tesla Model 3 on the competitors' ranking. Still, Americans would consider buying a Tesla Model 3, and one of the issues stopping them is the lack of a steady commercial car charging station infrastructure. Of course, money is another reason they don't rush into buying a Tesla.
Experts say Americans are waiting for new electric car incentive programs to be available in 2023. The government will offer $7,500 for every new EV car sold, a great opportunity to save money in 2023. Even more, people are entering the Christmas season and expect to spend a lot on gifts, leaving only a tiny portion of Americans who can afford to buy a new car at the end of the year.

People don't buy Teslas anymore

At the annual meeting of Rob Baron's Baron Capital with 5,000 investors and Elon Musk, its founder Rob Baron discussed the current situation of Tesla and made bold predictions about its future. Although Tesla sells a considerable number of cars annually and builds a widespread network of electric charger infrastructures, it experienced a stock drop of about 50% in 2022! Tesla's funds consist of almost 45% of all of the Baron Capital stock, but it doesn't bother its founder at all.&nbsp;
Baron sees this stock drop as an opportunity for everyone to buy a share of Tesla and invest now while the price is low. He further declared that Tesla would be the world's largest and most profitable company in ten years. We can expect this kind of development since Tesla plans to expand its domestic manufacturing process, build an entire system of renewable energy sources for its productions, and deliver a new North American EV Charging standard on the market. These are just a few plans, but we will surely see thousands of commercial car charging stations operating under the Tesla name.

Tesla is expected to be the largest and most profitable American company in the EV and EV charging industry

Elon Musk has been working on EV technology improvements for the past 20 years. Do you still question his company's future in the USA? Of course, the economy and the stock market are unstable and would never be predictable. We have seen many companies achieving major success and crushing the next day. But Tesla is not any other company, and its current status, mindset, and plans paint a clear picture - whatever the challenge, this company can survive and deliver outstanding results. Tesla is one of the top EV charging companies on the market, and its products will never cease to amaze us.&nbsp;
Whatever course this company decides to take in the next ten years, we hope Tesla will do its part in helping our country develop a strong and reliable EV charging infrastructure.

Is all the fuss around Tesla a rumor or a fact?

<ul>
<li>Tesla seems to register a 50% stock drop in 2022;</li>
<li>According to this year's survey organized by Kelley Blue Book, people's interest in Tesla is fading;</li>
<li>At the annual meeting of Rob Baron's Baron Capital with 5,000 investors and Elon Musk, its founder Rob Baron discussed the current situation of Tesla and made bold predictions about its future;</li>
<li>Baron sees this stock drop as an opportunity for everyone to buy a share of Tesla and invest now while the price is low. He further declared that Tesla would be the world's largest and most profitable company in ten years.</li>
</ul>

Tesla controversy: The interest in Tesla and its EV charging is fading, but it will become one of the most profitable companies in the USA

Tesla & Zoom make a better EV charging experience

How often did you run late to Zoom meeting calls with only 15% of your Tesla battery? Well, it's not going to happen anymore. Tesla and Zoom recently announced their new partnership. It's unclear when the updates will be available in Tesla electric cars, but it already sounds exciting!&nbsp;
You can forget long waiting times at public electric charging stations searching for Starbucks with a good internet connection. It's time to abandon the habit of driving while using our phones and focus on road safety instead. Business and Zoom car meetings are becoming real for Tesla owners, but only in parking mode.

Tesla knows how to take its users' experience to another level. It constantly upgrades its infotainment system. Tesla drives can watch video streaming from YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Twitch, etc., play games, use internet radio and music streaming, benefit from 3D rendering support, 5G Wi-Fi network, and many more.&nbsp;
Lucky for Tesla owners, they don't have to find ways of entertainment or places with strong coffee and steady Wi-Fi connection to kill time during charging. Adding Zoom meetings is another exciting upgrade for all people who don't have extra time to spare at commercial electric car charging stations.

Your electric charger experience at the station becomes better with Tesla infotainment

When Tesla and Zoom announced their app upgrade launch, they presented a test preview of this feature. Zoom plans to use the car's hardware and software for smooth video conferences. If a person wants to make a call, the video will connect with the in-car camera from the rearview&nbsp;mirror. The app will connect to Tesla's calendar app and send notifications and reminders like the regular Zoom app on phones and computers.&nbsp;
Now all Tesla drivers can be at ease about remembering their business call appointments. If they need to use a commercial charging station to top off their car's battery simultaneously, they can do that without issues while charging their Tesla and connecting the Zoom app.

How will Tesla drivers connect to Zoom meetings? 

This is the first public concern that appeared on social media after Zoom and Tesla's presentation. Tesla's self-driving option and other features have aroused countless speculations about road safety. As it turns out, drivers can only receive and make Zoom calls when parked. Although driving and taking calls sound convenient, it's unsafe, and the car's app will block the call to avoid the driver's distraction.
The option to make Zoom calls and use a commercial charging station will persuade drivers to park instead of being distracted on the road. This method will help avoid accidents and improve safety issues among drivers.

What about driving and “Zooming”?

We may debate the approaches Elon Musk uses in business, but we can't deny their success. Whenever a Tesla driver comments about a problem, Elon Musk hears it and starts working on providing a solution. Soon, every multitasking businessman, businesswoman, parent, teenager, and anyone owning a Tesla will have an easier life with upgraded Zoom features.&nbsp;
With so many EVs driving around, we are happy to welcome app developments integrated into our EVs - especially considering that we spend 4.3 years of our lives in cars! It's time to become time-efficient and use this charging time for important things. We are waiting for updates from Tesla and hope those other EV manufacturers will also catch up with all developments.

Use an electric charger and do business in the car with Tesla's upgrades

<ul>
<li>Tesla and Zoom recently announced their new partnership;</li>
<li>When Tesla and Zoom presented their app upgrade launch, they gave a test preview of this feature. Zoom plans to use the car's hardware and software for smooth video conferences;</li>
<li>Drivers can only receive and make Zoom calls when parked, which is a convenient option while charging your electric car.</li>
</ul>

Tesla makes EV charging and Zoom meetings a smooth experience

One Tesla connector for all EV charging companies

All EV owners expect to finally have a universal connector they can use for all commercial electric charging stations, and Tesla hopefully found the solution. Imagine not worrying about buying connectors or their compatibility with Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 public stations. Finally, we can have one single charging standard that fits all EVs in the USA.

On November 11, Tesla informed the world about their plan to make its connector's design available to all charging network operators and EV manufacturers. Since the first launch of the Tesla Model S on the market, Tesla drivers have been among the lucky ones - available to charge their EVs using both AC and DC commercial car charging stations. But the company has a bold goal to introduce to the world a new proprietary charging standard that we can finally call universal. The plan is to name this EV connector design the North American Charging Standard, or NACS.

Tesla knows how to make bold statements about EV charging solutions

Tesla claims its charger type NACS is the most frequent connector used in America. But why?
First, in the third quarter of this year, Tesla sold 343,830 EVs, of which 298,383 were registered in America. Statistics show that every third electric car sold in the country is a Tesla. Compared to other electric car manufacturers that have the power to accept DCFC and have the right type of connector, Tesla's NACS connector outnumbers them by two times. Even more, Tesla's Supercharging network has 60% more NACS connectors than other types, making it publicly accessible for Tesla owners but not for other EV drivers.

What about other electric car charger connectors? 

There are 3 types of EV connectors. The first type is the American and Asian connector J1772 which works with both Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. The second type is the trial-phase plug for the European market. And the last ones are CHAdeMO (10-pin plug) or CCS (5-pin plug) and Tesla connectors, all compatible with Level 3 DCFC.&nbsp;
The only issue for Tesla owners is this one - they have to use an adaptor to charge at other network operators' DCFCs that don't belong to Tesla. The same thing works for other EV brands on the market that want to use Tesla&rsquo;s superchargers. Today, only some charging network operators use Tesla plugs at their stations through special CHAdeMo adaptors, but things can significantly improve in the future.

Let us explain it in more detail 

At first sight, it seems like a win-win situation. Charging network operators can install NACS and attract another flow of customers that didn't use their public chargers until that moment, like Tesla owners. On top of that, EV manufacturers can expect an increase in sales, as people will not have to worry about charge anxiety and will benefit from an "almost universal" connector. And, of course, Tesla is the obvious winner, as Tesla car sales will grow, and their NACS design will be adopted across the whole country, maybe by other continents as well.
This is an excellent opportunity for the future of EV charging, but untimely in today's economic situation. Tesla's competitors and other charging operators quarrel about their market portion and want to retain their share in the long run. Although we are talking about DCFC, the J1772 connector's future can be in danger, too, as Tesla's NACS works with both AC and DC charging stations. In the end, there will be no need for J1772 connectors.
We must recognize that Tesla has ambitious ideas and goals that benefit Americans, but it takes time for people to adopt them. We expect more exciting news from Tesla, so stay tuned for updates. One thing we can be sure of for now is that the EV trend is already here, and we should do everything possible to facilitate its development.&nbsp;

Will other companies plunge into NACS adoption for their EV charging stations?

<ul>
<li>Tesla informed the world about their plan to make its connector's design available to all charging network operators and EV manufacturers;</li>
<li>The plan is to name this EV connector design the North American Charging Standard, or NACS;</li>
<li>This is an excellent opportunity for the future of EV charging, but untimely in today's economic situation. Tesla's competitors and other charging operators quarrel about their market portion and want to retain their share in the long run.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Tesla wants all charging station companies to adopt its universal connector

Uncover the latest technological innovations in the EV charging industry, reports, developments, startups, and economic predictions regarding electric cars and car chargers' adoption progress.&nbsp;

EV Technology & Innovations

Technology innovations for EV charging batteries

Almost 60% of Americans have considered buying an electric car, and those who already own one would definitely pick an EV in the future. But here is the tricky thing - as much as we welcome the new EV transition era and new technologies, we still fear the unfamiliar territory of owning an electric car. The biggest challenges are charging stations, charging speed, and issues regarding battery lifespan.&nbsp;
We have a long way to go until EVs become mainstream for every city, town, and state in the USA, but until then, our country is working hard on developing new technologies to improve EV batteries and their charging speed.&nbsp;
One bright team of engineers from Pennsylvania State University is on their way to creating batteries that can charge in 10 minutes! Picture this - people spend around 3-5 minutes at gas stations to fuel their ICE cars, including the time to pay and grab a coffee or a snack. Can you imagine how convenient it will be for people to spend 10 minutes charging their electric cars, including coffee and snack time, without changing their regular routines?&nbsp;
It may seem futuristic, as we currently have around 140,000 public charging points, and only 21,676 are DCFC. Our public infrastructure has a long way to go, but people are not discouraged and work hard on upgrading our EV charging technologies.

Starting in 2016, a team of scientists led by Chao-Yang Wang has been developing a self-regulating temperature technology for EV batteries. This is one of the best solutions for a public EV charger, as it solves the problem of charging electric car batteries in cold climates. The newly developed system works with the help of a nickel foil that warms up quickly and allows EV batteries to heat up, avoiding their deterioration. The same technology was upgraded through the years, and the nickel-foil system was improved to deliver high energy density and heat in 30 seconds through a cooling down method.&nbsp;
The scientist created a battery prototype that can add 200-300 miles in under 10 minutes, compared to a maximum of 80 miles range per hour for a regular Level 2 charger. Of course, they didn't stop there. The Pennsylvania group had improved the energy density to 265 Wh/kg when the last one was 209 Wh/kg.&nbsp;
Now to the best part! It is estimated that this battery will deliver 70% of the charge in 11 minutes for 2,000 cycles of fast charging. We expect to have soon very compact, energy-dense, and less expensive electric car batteries that we can use in manufacturing.

University scientists from Pennsylvania bring to life an electric car charger that charges an EV in 10 minutes!

We have known for years that NASA has been using the latest technology in space. Guess what? They finally want to share a part of their knowledge with us! We are talking about a cooling technology that allows EV batteries to transfer energy-dense temperatures for fast charging. Of course, NASA continues to advance its nuclear fission power systems and vapor compression heat pumps, but they plan to fly to Mars or the Moon, so we don't expect this kind of power in our electric car batteries.&nbsp;
The NASA research department enables the heating systems to maintain average temperatures in space and have low weight and compact size. Perfect solution for our DCFC on Earth. We won't go into the details about their subcooled flow boiling techniques, but this can become the most effective EV charging standard yet developed.

Borrowing from NASA new technology for EV charging

Formula E competitors have been working on the same problems for years. But compared to other battery manufacturers and scientists, Formula E participants want more - an ultra-fast EV charging station that delivers 600 kWh and allows their cars to speed up to 85 miles in 2-3 seconds. And they already have this system! Unfortunately, we need more time to borrow and develop the same charging solutions as Formula E racers use today because they are super expensive.&nbsp;
For now, we wait for American EV charging companies to embrace new technologies from other sources and make them publicly accessible for all EV drivers. Let's hope that commercial electric charging stations will soon be packed with ultra-fast chargers and their number will outgrow the number of gas stations on the roads.

Formula E cars know the secret of EV charging

<ul>
<li>Starting in 2016, a team of scientists led by Chao-Yang Wang has been developing a self-regulating temperature technology for EV batteries that deliver 70% of the charge in 11 minutes for 2,000 cycles of fast charging;</li>
<li>The NASA research department enables a heating system to maintain average temperatures in space and have low weight and compact size, which can become a solution for our DCFC and EV batteries;</li>
<li>Formula E developed an ultra-fast EV charging station that delivers 600 kWh, allows their cars to speed up to 85 miles in 2-3 seconds, and can be helpful for EV station manufacturers.</li>
</ul>

Ultra-fats, super-quick EV charging systems for electric car batteries

Find an electric charger with Google Maps updates

Every EV driver knows the perks of using Google Maps to find EV chargers. Despite having many practical features, Google still had to implement more options to make searching for an electric car charger easier. But not anymore!

Although few states in the USA have reliable DCFC infrastructure, the Level 3 Chargers have grown in popularity. With Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's first round of funding, America can already start investing money in their projects regarding the construction of EV charging infrastructure on interstate highways. More Level 3 electric charging stations along the roads will definitely decrease range and charge anxiety among EV users. But until then, Tesla and other commercial EV charging station owners must provide charging opportunities to drivers, and Google Maps will have to make them publicly accessible.&nbsp;
What does it mean to EV drivers? Google came up with Android and iPhone updates that allow users to search for fast chargers on the map. It's a perfect opportunity for drivers who want to get a quick charge in the area and don't have time to browse around aimlessly to find an appropriate electric charger or connector type.

What is interesting for electric car owners?

Google recently included a new feature for choosing the EV plug you need. And let's be honest - it took Google a long time to figure out this solution after reading and analyzing multiple online comments. Now you can search in Google Maps for a fast charger through a newly added filter option. You don't have to go back and forth between all the electric chargers in your town. You can use the Google Maps filter and pick your car's type of plug directly from the app. Good thing Google reads our online reviews!
On top of that, with a registered increase in EV sales in the last months and the customer's tendency to search for DCFC, Google took a little less time to figure out another solution - the "fast charge" filter. All you have to do is type "charging station" in&nbsp; Google Maps and choose the "fast charge" option. The search results will show only the Level 3 charging stations compatible with your car plug. Thank you, Google, for these updates.
Of course, this option is only available in the states, cities, and towns from the USA that have a reliable DCFC infrastructure. This is an excellent solution for EV drivers who want to "top off" their batteries and quickly get back on the roads. Our fast-paced lives are a perfect match for Level 3 chargers, and Google understands our needs.

New filter option to find the best commercial EV charging stations

"Search with Live view" is a new Google Map exciting function. Thousands of tech companies integrate VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) into their business, and people are going crazy about these options. Seeing the "regular map" on your screen is boring, last-century news. Today, you can tap your current location in Google Maps, press the camera icon, and get a full AR view from places around you.&nbsp;
This option allows you to search for popular places and businesses and find the perfect spot for charging your electric car. Although this update is new and available only in 6 cities (Paris, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York), we hope every other location will have the same option soon. Or will it be too creepy to see your local address augmented on your phone while you relax at home? Well, technologies are slowly and boldly entering our lives, and we must embrace every development with an open mind.&nbsp;
Let's hope Google Map updates its app more frequently because EV drivers are eager to get more solutions for their charging anxiety. Stay tuned!

Look for an EV charging station in Google Augmented Reality Map! 

<ul>
<li>Google has recently added a new filter to its search option for locating fast chargers;</li>
<li>Google Maps has a new "Search with Live view" feature, which you can use for finding EV chargers. It is available for trial for only six major cities - New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Tokyo, and Paris.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Latest News

Latest News