Many dealers have become disillusioned with the electric vehicle market in the post-pandemic car market as technological and infrastructure limitations continue to suppress sales. However, while transitioning away from the internal combustion engine may take longer than originally expected, many remain unaware that companies are already solving the obstacles preventing wider adoption, creating new opportunities for the retail automotive sector to boost demand in the coming years.
On this episode of Driving Solutions, host Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by Mike Battaglia, chief operations officer of Blink Charging, an industry-leading electric vehicle charging provider. Blink Charging is helping dealers nationwide prepare for the coming energy transition with affordable installation options and cutting-edge technology. Now, Battaglia shares his insights into the current electrification landscape and how automakers, charging companies, and retailers are working to solve the challenges facing the battery-powered car segment.
Key Takeaways
1. The number one reason that U.S. consumers give for not purchasing an electric vehicle is infrastructure. The nation’s charging network is extremely under-prepared for electrification and will need to see rapid growth to support drivers and spur demand.
2. Battaglia notes that charging providers are moving as aggressively as possible to help drive electric vehicle sales and allow the market to grow.
3. Level 2 charging is the nation’s best bet for expanding its charging infrastructure rapidly and effectively. Battaglia notes that Level 2 stations are cost-efficient, easy to deploy in most areas, and provide a relatively fast refueling experience.
4. Electric vehicles are broadly expected to account for 30% of all auto sales by 2030. To meet this demand, Battaglia estimates the U.S. will need more than 30 million charging stations.
5. Americans want the resources to drive their electric vehicle across states without having to worry about running out of battery power. To provide this infrastructure, the U.S. will need to prioritize building charging stations near highways, something programs such as the Department of Energy’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) initiative are seeking to accomplish.
6. Battaglia notes that charging innovation is currently progressing faster than electric vehicle technology, to the extent that current models are unable to support the speed with which modern prototypes function. This groundwork will be necessary to encourage automakers to continue making investments in research and development.
To learn more about how Blink Charging can ready your dealership for the electric vehicle transition, be sure to visit booth #6361N at the 2024 NADA Show.
"The technology is gonna continue to advance. One example of that is D.C. fast charging. It wasn't too many years ago that people balked at a 50-kilowatt D.C. fast charger; they thought that was nuts...I'm actually at CES right now, and we're looking at 400-kilowatt units that are actually competitively priced, and, by the way, there aren't even cars that can take that. So the technology is advancing even faster than the technology in the vehicle in terms of the speed with which you're gonna be able to charge." — Mike Battaglia
