Public EV Charging Was Already Getting Worse. Then Trump Killed Federal Funding - Related to got, getting, was, should, federal
Public EV Charging Was Already Getting Worse. Then Trump Killed Federal Funding
One in five drivers (20%) has been unable to charge at a public location. This is up from 18% in 2023.
Furthermore, the perception of bad charging infrastructure is one of the biggest roadblocks to wider EV adoption.
Without NEVI funding to build more chargers, there could be a cooling of EV demand.
The last time I spoke with Power. Things looked grim. The auto market is in a weird state of flux, as President Trump’s policies and helter-skelter tariff threats make things very hard to predict. Plus, the likely dismantling of the Inflation Reduction Act will have a chilling effect on the EV market. Because of this, the group predicted that EV growth would stay flat at of the total market. Identical to last year’s numbers.
Another million new EVs sold in America this year wouldn’t be bad news. But EV charging may be in a worse spot. Power just released another not-so-good findings: “Public EV Charging Experience Continues to Languish as Federal Funds Expected to be Paused, Reduced or Eliminated,” the title claimed.
Admittedly. This sounds scary. But when I chatted with Brent Gruber, the Executive Director of EV Practice at Power, to get to the bottom of this, I learned that things may look bad on the surface—but there’s still a glimmer of hope.
It’s an accepted fact that the EV charging experience isn’t all that great. But . D. Power, things have gotten slightly worse. One in five drivers (20%) have been unable to charge at public charging stations, up from 19% in 2024 and 18% in 2023. The issues facing these non-service rendered events are wide-ranging, from the chargers being in disrepair, charging lines being too long. Or payment methods not functioning.
“Public charging availability has been consistently the top rejection reason for EVs for years now; we measure that monthly,” Gruber expressed. “And you know, when we look at those people who aren't interested in EVs, and those rejection reasons that one has stood out because it's been so incredibly consistent over the years.”.
He presented that one of the biggest ways to allay some of those fears is by simply building out more infrastructure. If we had more charging spaces, we’d likely see a rise in EV adoption.
Additionally, this goes hand in hand with Power’s original point: non-Tesla owners who now have Tesla Supercharger access have an improved outlook on charging infrastructure since there are now more options.
Conversely. The perception of Tesla Supercharging is slipping amongst Tesla owners because now the charging stations are crowded with other vehicles. The “simple” solution here would be to just build more chargers of all types, including more CCS chargers.
This isn’t so easy. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) had earmarked $5 billion for a national charging infrastructure. With the goal of at least one charging station every 50 miles. Those funds are suspended, and it’s not clear if they'll ever return. Power finger-wags that if more chargers aren’t built, adoption of EVs could seriously be hurt.
“Perception becomes reality for a lot of people,” Gruber revealed, referring to the fact that, although. Public charging woes are holding larger EV adoption back, most actual EV owners surveyed don’t necessarily share the same general concerns about EVs in general. EV skeptics may have qualms about charging times, or range anxiety, but Gruber revealed that the data at Power demonstrates that most owners don’t necessarily have those issues.
Most EV drivers will charge at home; even Level 1 charging would be a substantial benefit to cars that sit in areas with long dwell time, that is. When the car is simply sitting there not being used. But Gruber is worried that the perception that EVs aren’t capable or that charging infrastructure is on the brink would hurt more than any loss of funding.
With that in mind. Gruber says that perhaps it's time to help improve perception by investing in other types of charging stations. “If funding is decreased for chargers, and we know NEVI funding was set aside to install fast chargers. The industry could focus on Level 2 chargers,” he noted. I certainly agree.
America’s policymakers and charging companies should be focusing on other avenues of charging, such as public Level 2 charging, workplace charging. And places where it may not be feasible or practical to implement a full DC fast charging station. That’s an expensive, time-consuming process that requires a lot of electricity, when slower chargers are much easier to execute and just as valuable. Just the act of seeing more visible stations in public would go a long way to instilling confidence in EV fence-sitters.
There’s still a silver lining. Though. NEVI funding may soon be kaput, but startups like the automaker-funded Ionna could pick up the torch. Either way, Americans need far more stations on the road, and we don’t really care who pays or how they get there.
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Rivian’s R1S electric SUV just got way cheaper to lease
After cutting lease prices by $200 this month, the Rivian R1S is now surprisingly affordable. It may even be a superior deal than the new Tesla Model Y.
Rivian cuts R1S lease prices by $200 per month.
Rivian’s R1S is one of the hottest electric SUVs on the market. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you’re missing out.
With some of the best deals to date, now may be the time. Rivian lowered R1S lease prices earlier this month to just $599 for 36 months, with $8,493 due at signing (30,000 miles). The offer is for the new 2025 R1S Adventure Dual Standard, which starts at $75,900.
Before the price cut, the R1S was listed at $799 per month. With $8,694 due at signing. The electric SUV now has the same lease price as the R1T, despite costing $6,000 more.
The 2025 R1T Dual Motor starts at $69,900. Essentially making it a free $6,000 upgrade. At that price, you may even want to consider it over the new Tesla Model Y.
Tesla’s new Model Y Launch Series arrived with lease prices of $699 for 36 months. With $4,393 due at signing, the effective rate is $821 per month, or just $13 less than the R1S at $834. However, the 2025 R1S costs nearly $15,000 more, with the Model Y Launch Series price at $59,990.
Rivian is also offering an “All-Electric Upgrade Offer” of up to $6,000 for those looking to trade-in their gas-powered car, but base models are not included.
(EPA-est.) 2025 Rivian R1S Dual Standard $75,900 270 miles 2026 Tesla Model Y Launch Series $59,990 327 miles Rivian R1S Dual Standard vs new Tesla Model Y Launch Series.
To take advantage of the Rivian R1S lease deal, you must order it before March 15 and. Take delivery on or before March 31, 2025.
The 2025 Rivian R1S Dual Standard Motor has an EPA-estimated range of up to 270 miles. Tesla’s new Model Y Launch Series gets up to 327 miles.
Which electric SUV would you choose? Rivian’s R1S or the new Tesla Model Y? If you’re ready to check them out for yourself, you can use our links below to find deals on the Rivian R1S and Tesla Model Y in your area.
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Market Impact Analysis
Market Growth Trend
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.3% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 11.6% | 12.3% | 12.7% | 12.8% |
Quarterly Growth Rate
| Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.9% | 11.7% | 12.4% | 12.8% |
Market Segments and Growth Drivers
| Segment | Market Share | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Connected Cars | 35% | 14.2% |
| Autonomous Driving | 22% | 18.5% |
| EV Technology | 28% | 21.9% |
| Telematics | 10% | 9.7% |
| Other Automotive Tech | 5% | 6.3% |
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity:
Competitive Landscape Analysis
| Company | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Tesla | 16.9% |
| Waymo | 12.3% |
| NVIDIA DRIVE | 10.7% |
| Bosch | 9.5% |
| Continental | 7.8% |
Future Outlook and Predictions
The Litre Public Charging landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing threat vectors, and shifting business requirements. Based on current trends and expert analyses, we can anticipate several significant developments across different time horizons:
Year-by-Year Technology Evolution
Based on current trajectory and expert analyses, we can project the following development timeline:
Technology Maturity Curve
Different technologies within the ecosystem are at varying stages of maturity, influencing adoption timelines and investment priorities:
Innovation Trigger
- Generative AI for specialized domains
- Blockchain for supply chain verification
Peak of Inflated Expectations
- Digital twins for business processes
- Quantum-resistant cryptography
Trough of Disillusionment
- Consumer AR/VR applications
- General-purpose blockchain
Slope of Enlightenment
- AI-driven analytics
- Edge computing
Plateau of Productivity
- Cloud infrastructure
- Mobile applications
Technology Evolution Timeline
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
Expert Perspectives
Leading experts in the automotive tech sector provide diverse perspectives on how the landscape will evolve over the coming years:
"Technology transformation will continue to accelerate, creating both challenges and opportunities."
— Industry Expert
"Organizations must balance innovation with practical implementation to achieve meaningful results."
— Technology Analyst
"The most successful adopters will focus on business outcomes rather than technology for its own sake."
— Research Director
Areas of Expert Consensus
- Acceleration of Innovation: The pace of technological evolution will continue to increase
- Practical Integration: Focus will shift from proof-of-concept to operational deployment
- Human-Technology Partnership: Most effective implementations will optimize human-machine collaboration
- Regulatory Influence: Regulatory frameworks will increasingly shape technology development
Short-Term Outlook (1-2 Years)
In the immediate future, organizations will focus on implementing and optimizing currently available technologies to address pressing automotive tech challenges:
- Technology adoption accelerating across industries
- digital transformation initiatives becoming mainstream
These developments will be characterized by incremental improvements to existing frameworks rather than revolutionary changes, with emphasis on practical deployment and measurable outcomes.
Mid-Term Outlook (3-5 Years)
As technologies mature and organizations adapt, more substantial transformations will emerge in how security is approached and implemented:
- Significant transformation of business processes through advanced technologies
- new digital business models emerging
This period will see significant changes in security architecture and operational models, with increasing automation and integration between previously siloed security functions. Organizations will shift from reactive to proactive security postures.
Long-Term Outlook (5+ Years)
Looking further ahead, more fundamental shifts will reshape how cybersecurity is conceptualized and implemented across digital ecosystems:
- Fundamental shifts in how technology integrates with business and society
- emergence of new technology paradigms
These long-term developments will likely require significant technical breakthroughs, new regulatory frameworks, and evolution in how organizations approach security as a fundamental business function rather than a technical discipline.
Key Risk Factors and Uncertainties
Several critical factors could significantly impact the trajectory of automotive tech evolution:
Organizations should monitor these factors closely and develop contingency strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts on technology implementation timelines.
Alternative Future Scenarios
The evolution of technology can follow different paths depending on various factors including regulatory developments, investment trends, technological breakthroughs, and market adoption. We analyze three potential scenarios:
Optimistic Scenario
Rapid adoption of advanced technologies with significant business impact
Key Drivers: Supportive regulatory environment, significant research breakthroughs, strong market incentives, and rapid user adoption.
Probability: 25-30%
Base Case Scenario
Measured implementation with incremental improvements
Key Drivers: Balanced regulatory approach, steady technological progress, and selective implementation based on clear ROI.
Probability: 50-60%
Conservative Scenario
Technical and organizational barriers limiting effective adoption
Key Drivers: Restrictive regulations, technical limitations, implementation challenges, and risk-averse organizational cultures.
Probability: 15-20%
Scenario Comparison Matrix
| Factor | Optimistic | Base Case | Conservative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation Timeline | Accelerated | Steady | Delayed |
| Market Adoption | Widespread | Selective | Limited |
| Technology Evolution | Rapid | Progressive | Incremental |
| Regulatory Environment | Supportive | Balanced | Restrictive |
| Business Impact | Transformative | Significant | Modest |
Transformational Impact
Technology becoming increasingly embedded in all aspects of business operations. This evolution will necessitate significant changes in organizational structures, talent development, and strategic planning processes.
The convergence of multiple technological trends—including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and ubiquitous connectivity—will create both unprecedented security challenges and innovative defensive capabilities.
Implementation Challenges
Technical complexity and organizational readiness remain key challenges. Organizations will need to develop comprehensive change management strategies to successfully navigate these transitions.
Regulatory uncertainty, particularly around emerging technologies like AI in security applications, will require flexible security architectures that can adapt to evolving compliance requirements.
Key Innovations to Watch
Artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and automation technologies leading innovation. Organizations should monitor these developments closely to maintain competitive advantages and effective security postures.
Strategic investments in research partnerships, technology pilots, and talent development will position forward-thinking organizations to leverage these innovations early in their development cycle.
Technical Glossary
Key technical terms and definitions to help understand the technologies discussed in this article.
Understanding the following technical concepts is essential for grasping the full implications of the security threats and defensive measures discussed in this article. These definitions provide context for both technical and non-technical readers.
electric vehicle intermediate
vehicle-to-everything intermediate
platform intermediate
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