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EV charging infrastructure strength in each U.S. state analyzed in new study

Credit: Elektrobloger/Instagram

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Update: The infographic under “EV charging infrastructure development in Europe in 2022” was updated to include the correct graphic after initially including a repeat of the U.S. index.

Public charging is a common concern for new electric vehicle (EV) buyers and current owners alike, and local charging infrastructure can depend heavily on where a person lives. In a recent study, one organization looked at each U.S. state to assess the maturity of their local charging infrastructure, demonstrating some of the places where it may be easiest — and hardest — to own an EV.

In a joint study from research firm SBD Automotive and location-data company Here Technologies, researchers analyzed the number of public charging across all 50 U.S. states (and the District of Columbia) to determine which had the best and worst charging infrastructures (via Green Car Reports).

The research utilized data from Here’s own EV Charge Points API, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) and, for the European portion of the study, the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO).

The study looked at multiple categories of charger density from 2020-2022, including charging points per road length, average charging power, the state’s EV market share (2022 only), and the number of EV fleets per charging point. Using the category breakdowns, the two parties then assigned scores to states based on these factors.

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Washington D.C. ranked first on the index, ahead of state leaders Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland and Maine. Making up the rest of the top 10 states were New York, Colorado, Rhode Island and California.

EV market and charging infrastructure maturity in the U.S., based on multiple dimensions

Sources: HERE EV Charge Points API (Dec 31, 2020, 2021, 2022), AFDC. Credit: Here Technologies

EV charging infrastructure development in the U.S. in 2022

The index also includes a simple infographic demonstrating the number of EVs per charging point in 2022. The graphic shows New Jersey as the charging density leader, with states including Florida, Texas, California and many others trailing just behind. Following the study, researchers suggest a rate of one public charger for every eight or nine EVs.

Sources: HERE EV Charge Points API (Dec 31, 2022), U.S. Department of Energy, EAFO. Credit: Here Technologies

Sources: HERE EV Charge Points API (Dec 31, 2022), U.S. Department of Energy, EAFO. Credit: Here Technologies

Sources: HERE EV Charge Points API, (Dec 31, 2022), U.S. Department of Energy, AFDC. Credit: Here Technologies

EV charging infrastructure development in Europe in 2022

In addition to looking at U.S. states, the study also compared the maturity of charging infrastructure across European countries. The European index showed Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany as the charging leaders out of a total of 30 countries analyzed.

Sources: HERE EV Charge Points API (Dec 31, 2022), EAFO. Credit: Here Technologies

Most EV owners charge their vehicles at home, work or other consistent locations rather than at charging stations. However, anyone planning to use their EV on a road trip or a long commute may need regular access to public charging. With EV adoption rates rapidly increasing, public charging will need to follow to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles on the road — and to prevent current chargers from getting too full.

The study comes after several announcements of automakers switching from Combined Charging System (CCS) charging hardware to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs in the U.S. The shift will see vehicle manufacturers such as Ford, GM, Rivian, Honda and more building future cars with the NACS plug, some as soon as next year, which will also give them access to the Tesla Supercharger network.

You can see the full breakdown of charging infrastructure by state and category below or use the interactive infographics at the Here Technologies website here.

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

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Zach is a renewable energy reporter who has been covering electric vehicles since 2020. He grew up in Fremont, California, and he currently lives in Colorado. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, KRON4 San Francisco, FOX31 Denver, InsideEVs, CleanTechnica, and many other publications. When he isn't covering Tesla or other EV companies, you can find him writing and performing music, drinking a good cup of coffee, or hanging out with his cats, Banks and Freddie. Reach out at zach@teslarati.com, find him on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Tesla Cybertruck slapped with world’s least intimidating ticket, and it’s pure cringe

One cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of these babies.

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Credit: Ryan Torres/X

A Cybertruck parked at Stanford Shopping Center in California was recently hit with what might be the most try-hard piece of paper ever slipped under a wiper blade: a “fake citation” accusing the driver of supporting a “fascist car.” 

The note, shared on X by Tesla staff program manager Ryan Torres, quickly made the rounds on X, where it quickly gained attention as an example of how not to protest.

The world’s least intimidating ticket

According to the citation, the supposed “violation” was “driving a fascist car.” The remedial action? Take the bus, call an Uber, or ride a bike. The note also dubbed Elon Musk a “chainsaw-wielding Nazi billionaire.” Now, protests against Tesla and Elon Musk have become commonplace this year, but one cannot help but cringe and feel second-hand embarrassment at the idea of a person just driving around with a stack of fake anti-Tesla/Musk citations.

Torres pointed out the irony himself in his post on X. Tesla currently employs over 140,000 Americans, and SpaceX has put the U.S. firmly back at the top of space technology. As Torres put it, maybe the person behind the world’s least intimidating ticket should “read a book on innovation before vandalizing” other people’s property.

Peak performative clownery

Not to mention that the fake ticket’s logic collapses under its own weight. EVs like the Cybertruck are literally designed to reduce emissions, not “destroy the economy.” If anything, Tesla has bolstered the United States’ economy by fueling jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and clean energy. It’s not the first time a Tesla has been the target of vandalism or politically charged notes, but this one stands out for sheer cringe value. 

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Torres summed it up neatly: “Peak clownery.” On that point, at least, the citation earns full marks. In a way, though, perhaps cringe fake tickets are not as bad as the literal firebombs that were being thrown at Tesla stores and cars earlier this year because some critics were gleefully misinformed about Elon Musk.

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Why a Tesla Model Y led to a teen’s failed driving exam in Ontario

The issue was due to the driver using the Model Y’s regenerative braking system.

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A North Bay, Ontario man has raised concerns after his teenage daughter failed her G driver’s license road test while driving his Tesla Model Y. The issue, the Tesla owner noted, was due to his daughter using the Model Y’s regenerative braking system to bring the car to a stop.

Regenerative braking bias

Eric Simard, the Tesla owner, told CBC News that his daughter borrowed his car for her driving test. Because of this, she was not fully familiar with how to disable the Model Y’s regenerative braking system. Unfortunately, the examiner did not allow his daughter to call him for help in turning off the feature.

Simard noted that his daughter ultimately failed her driving test because she never used the car’s physical brake pedal. In his daughter’s road test results from Drive Test Ontario, the examiner marked a box stating that the Model Y was “out of order. 

“I find it pretty frustrating because even though it’s regenerative braking and you’re not using the brake pedal, you’re clearly the one that is in full control of making the vehicle come to a stop or to slow down,” Simard stated, adding that his daughter was also penalized for the Model Y’s feature that alerts drivers when a traffic light turns green. 

Discussions on driver-assist technologies

In a comment, Julia Caslin, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, stated that the province’s graduated licensing system “requires drivers to always demonstrate safe vehicle operation and full control, regardless of the vehicle’s features.” 

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“Applicants are expected to understand how their vehicle’s system — including lane centring, regenerative braking, adaptive cruise control and automated parking — may affect handling and performance during a road test,” Caslin stated. 

Driving instructors also expressed differing views about Simard’s experience. Saad Tariq of Greater Sudbury Driving School said he advises students against relying on driver-assist features because sensors can fail.

Meanwhile, Amanda Lacroix of Northern Lights Driving School suggested road tests should adapt to the technologies drivers use daily, while still requiring mastery of basic skills like mirror checks and manual braking.

“If the world’s going to change and we’re all going to have assisted driving, then we should be learning how to do it properly,” Lacroix said.

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Elon Musk

Tesla says it is working on rides for the handicapped and disabled with Robotaxi

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that this was a focus by responding, “Absolutely,” to the embedded post on X above. Tesla said it is developing its own “wheelchair-accessible vehicle,” also known as a WAV. 

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Credit: Teslarati

Tesla says on its Robotaxi app that it is working on enabling “accessibility rides” that would give the handicapped and disabled the ability to hail a Robotaxi to get to an appointment.

While Robotaxi will obviously revolutionize the way we travel for our work commutes, daily activities, and other things, but there is true potential to enable serious change for those who cannot drive.

Autonomous transportation would make life easier for those who are unable to obtain a driver’s license. Of course, with today’s ride-sharing platforms, things are much easier than they once were.

However, rides from Uber and Lyft, while plentiful, always have an opportunity to be unavailable in some regions, especially rural ones, due to a lack of drivers.

Robotaxi aims to solve this problem through autonomous transportation, a technology that Tesla has been developing for years.

However, new language in the Robotaxi app shows that Tesla is working on a solution for people who need rides for medical reasons, and it uses a picture of the Robovan to hammer this point home:

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that this was a focus by responding, “Absolutely,” to the embedded post on X above. Tesla said it is developing its own “wheelchair-accessible vehicle,” also known as a WAV.

This is likely the Robovan, which was unveiled on October 10 at the Robotaxi event last year:

Tesla unveils the Robovan at ‘We, Robot’ event

It is pretty interesting to see two Musk ventures working on solutions for those who are physically impaired or have other disabilities. With Tesla, Robotaxi will unlock immense potential for those who are unable to drive themselves, addressing a genuine need in today’s world.

Additionally, Neuralink is continuing its development of technology to fight against various physical and mental disabilities. A great question to ask is, “Which will be more beneficial for humans?”

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