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The Knowledge Base: My 2025 Industry Wish List

My 2025 wish list for the electronics manufacturing industry is short. In fact, there’s only one item on the list: reliable EV charging stations.

I love to drive cars, off-road vehicles, and boats. I also fly airplanes, and I’m an unabashed tech geek. From computers to tech gadgets, count me in. Because electric vehicles combine my fascination for both propulsion and technology, most of my friends and colleagues are surprised to learn that I do not yet have an electric vehicle. So, what’s holding me back? The answer does not lie with the electric vehicle itself, but with the current state of public EV charging stations.

Like most things in life, challenges and opportunities frequently go together. Fortunately, there is a silver lining. Today, there is an unprecedented economic opportunity within the electronics manufacturing industry to fix this problem.

Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in the Public EV Charging Industry
The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is accelerating, with global sales surpassing 10 million units in 2023¹. However, the expansion of public charging infrastructure has not kept pace, leading to significant challenges in reliability and accessibility. Addressing these issues is crucial for the continued growth of the EV market and presents substantial opportunities for the electronics manufacturing industry.

Reliability Challenges in Public EV Charging Stations
Public EV charging stations are plagued by reliability issues, undermining consumer confidence and hindering widespread EV adoption. A study by the Harvard Business School revealed that approximately 78% of public charging stations in the U.S. are operational at any given time, leaving a significant portion (22%) non-functional due to various technical problems². In contrast, if 22% of gas pumps in the U.S. were nonfunctional, that would reduce the number of gas pumps by over 46,000.

There are several reasons for the poor reliability performance of public EV chargers:

• Hardware failures: Malfunctions in charging connectors, screens, and payment systems are prevalent, often resulting from inadequate maintenance and exposure to environmental factors.
• Software glitches: Problems with network connectivity and payment processing can prevent successful charging sessions, frustrating users and deterring potential EV buyers.
• Vandalism and misuse: Public chargers are susceptible to vandalism and improper use, leading to downtime and increased maintenance costs.

These reliability concerns not only inconvenience current EV owners but also deter prospective buyers, slowing the transition to electric mobility.

Economic Impact of Unreliable Charging Infrastructure
The economic implications of unreliable public charging infrastructure are profound. Inconsistent charging availability can lead to anxiety, discouraging consumers from purchasing EVs and thereby affecting the automotive market's shift toward electrification. This hesitation hampers efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and diminishes potential economic benefits from the burgeoning EV sector.

Moreover, businesses that rely on electric fleets face operational inefficiencies due to unreliable charging stations, leading to increased costs and reduced productivity. The cumulative effect of these issues can stifle innovation and economic growth within the EV ecosystem.

Opportunities for Electronics Manufacturing
Enhancing the reliability of public EV charging stations presents significant opportunities for the electronics manufacturing industry. Key areas for development include:

• Advanced components and board design: Manufacturing robust and weather-resistant charging hardware can reduce failure rates and maintenance needs.
• Smart systems: Integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies enables real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, ensuring higher uptime and improved user experience.
• Standardization: Developing universal charging standards facilitates interoperability among different EV models and charging networks, simplifying the charging process for consumers.

Financially, the build-out of reliable public charging infrastructure is a substantial market. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $7.5 billion to develop a national network of EV chargers, aiming for 500,000 stations by 2030³. This investment translates into a significant demand for electronic components, control systems, and related technologies, offering a lucrative opportunity for electronics manufacturers.

Federal Investments and Reliability Standards

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act underscores the U.S. government's commitment to expanding and enhancing EV charging infrastructure. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, a $5 billion initiative, provides funding to states for deploying EV charging stations along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. An additional $2.5 billion is allocated for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants, targeting both corridor and community charging needs.

A critical aspect of these federal programs is the emphasis on reliability. The NEVI program mandates that federally funded chargers must be operational at least 97% of the time, ensuring a dependable network for EV users. This requirement compels manufacturers and operators to prioritize quality and maintenance, fostering consumer confidence in the charging infrastructure.

Conclusion
The public EV charging industry stands at a pivotal juncture, facing challenges in reliability that impact consumer adoption and economic growth. However, these challenges also present significant opportunities for the electronics manufacturing sector to innovate and lead in developing robust, smart, and standardized charging solutions. With substantial federal investments and stringent reliability standards, the path forward involves collaborative efforts to build a resilient and accessible charging network, propelling the EV revolution and its associated economic benefits.

Perhaps once the public EV charging station network is reliable, I can work on the next item on my wish list: the 2025 electric Corvette (E-Ray).

References

1. Global EV Sales for 2023, Jan 22. 2024, EV Volumes.
2. “The state of EV charging in America: Harvard research shows chargers 78% reliable and pricing like the ‘Wild West,’” by Omar Asensio, et al, Institute for Business in Global Society, June 26, 2024.
3. FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Standards and Major Progress for a Made-in-America Network of Electric Vehicle Chargers, Whitehouse.gov, Feb. 15, 2023.

Resources

• “U.S. electric vehicle infrastructure has tripled in 5 years. Here’s how Missouri compares, Kansas City Star, Dec. 11, 2024.
• “Electric vs. Gas: Here’s What Consumer Reports Discovered about Vehicle Reliability,” Consumer Reports, Dec. 5, 2024.
• “An analysis of 20,000 EV stations concludes that charging is still a massive bummer,” The Verge.
• “Why Public EV Charging Sucks … and What’s Being Done to Fix It”, MotorTrend, July 3, 2024.
• “California Investing in EV Charging Reliability Statewide With $63 Million in Federal Funding”, Caltrans, Jan. 19, 2024.

This column originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine.