When Government Builds

When Government Builds

In the race to electrify transportation, governments and environmental advocates have prioritized the installation of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The intent is clear: accelerate the transition from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric ones and reduce carbon emissions. However, despite these good intentions, the rollout of EV charging infrastructure is proving to be both inefficient and inconvenient, with many stations placed in locations that make little practical sense. This issue underscores a broader problem when government mandates bypass the natural flow of market forces, resulting in suboptimal outcomes for consumers.

A Missed Opportunity in Charging Station Placement

Consider Caledonia County, Vermont, where a taxpayer-funded EV charging station was installed far from the interstate. This location choice forces EV drivers to take detours, wasting precious battery life to access the charger, instead of finding it conveniently placed along their usual route. In contrast, gas stations have evolved over time, often naturally situated near on-and off-ramps or in high-traffic areas where they serve the most people with the least inconvenience.

One might reasonably ask: Why aren’t EV chargers being installed in similar high-traffic locations, such as gas stations along highways, where they could naturally coexist with existing refueling infrastructure? After all, we already see fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Subway, and Taco Bell co-locating with gas stations and convenience stores across the country. These partnerships thrive because they provide one-stop solutions for consumers—gas, food, and convenience in one place. Yet, EV chargers remain largely disconnected from this proven model of co-location, much to the frustration of EV drivers.

Growing Frustration Among EV Owners

EV drivers are vocal about the challenges they face with public charging. A J.D. Power study found that one in five charging attempts ends without success, largely due to station malfunctions or outages​ (Kbb.com​) (American Public Power Association). Additionally, many EV owners report dissatisfaction with the availability and condition of public chargers, especially in regions with high EV adoption like California. Brent Gruber, executive director of global automotive at J.D. Power, highlights that “public charging continues to provide challenges to overall EV adoption and current EV owners alike”​ (Utility Dive).

The problem isn’t just the availability of chargers, but their location and reliability. Drivers frequently find that charging stations are placed in unexpected or inconvenient spots, away from highways or gas stations where they would naturally expect to find them. Instead of the efficient, convenient refueling experience they are used to with gas stations, EV drivers often have to go out of their way to find a functional charger, further complicating their driving experience.

The Government’s Role in Poor Planning

Why are EV charging stations often located far from the logical, consumer-friendly locations that gas stations occupy? One reason is that government mandates and subsidies tend to prioritize symbolic environmental wins over practical solutions. Rather than integrating EV chargers into existing refueling networks, like gas stations, the focus has often been on creating new, government-led charging infrastructure. This has resulted in chargers being placed in less useful or remote locations, where they are underutilized and, in some cases, inefficiently maintained.

Federal and state policies, while well-meaning, often lead to the misallocation of resources when it comes to infrastructure. For example, the decision to place the Caledonia charging station away from the interstate reflects a disconnect between policy makers and the realities of consumer behavior. EV drivers want convenience and efficiency, but government planning has failed to provide it, just as it has in other regions where charging infrastructure is poorly located.

This disconnect is highlighted by EV drivers themselves, with many expressing frustration at the lack of planning behind charger placement. A study by Utility Dive notes that, while there is an increasing number of public chargers, drivers are often left wondering why they aren’t located where they are needed most​ (American Public Power Association).

Gas Stations Developed Through Private Investment, Not Public Dollars

What’s often overlooked in the conversation about charging infrastructure is the historical development of gas stations. Unlike today’s government-subsidized EV chargers, gas stations developed organically through private investment, not taxpayer dollars.

In the early 20th century, as the automobile became widespread, oil companies like Standard Oil and entrepreneurs recognized the demand for fuel and began building gas stations at key locations. These were not built through government subsidies but through market-driven investment. Gas station owners placed them where they would get the most traffic—near highways and urban centers—because that’s where drivers needed them most. Over time, competition among oil companies helped ensure that gas stations were placed in the most convenient locations​ (Kbb.com).

Moreover, even when the federal government developed infrastructure like the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s, gas stations remained private ventures. The roads provided the infrastructure, but the stations themselves were built, owned, and operated by private entities. This allowed for a natural, consumer-driven system where stations sprang up at high-traffic points to serve demand.

The Free-Market Solution

The placement of gas stations provides an excellent example of how natural market forces can deliver efficient, consumer-friendly outcomes. Gas stations have developed where the demand exists—near highways, city centers, and areas of heavy traffic. They didn’t spring up because of government mandates; rather, they emerged organically as a response to the needs of drivers. The free market, driven by competition, naturally optimizes for efficiency and convenience.

If the market were left to handle EV charger placement in the same way, we would likely see chargers integrated into existing gas stations and other high-traffic areas where drivers could easily access them. This wouldn’t require new, expensive infrastructure projects—just an addition to already established networks of refueling stations.

Many charging networks, like Tesla’s Supercharger network, are already showing the advantages of market-driven infrastructure development. Tesla’s fast chargers are consistently rated the highest by EV owners because they are reliable, easy to find, and located in logical, consumer-friendly areas​ (Kbb.com). In fact, some automakers, like Ford and GM, are now turning to Tesla’s network to improve customer satisfaction​ (Kbb.com). This shows that, even within the realm of EV charging, the market is capable of providing better solutions than top-down government interventions.

Missed Opportunities for Co-Location

What makes the lack of integration between gas stations and EV chargers even more puzzling is the success of co-located services in other industries. Fast-food chains have long understood the value of partnering with gas stations to meet the needs of travelers. The combination of fuel, food, and restrooms makes these stops a convenient one-stop solution for drivers.

The same model could easily apply to EV chargers. Placing them at major gas stations along highways would allow EV drivers to charge their vehicles while grabbing a meal or taking a break, just as gasoline-powered drivers do. Yet, despite the logic of this approach, many EV chargers remain isolated and inconveniently placed, leaving drivers frustrated and the infrastructure underutilized.

Conclusion: Let Market Forces Drive Efficiency

The ongoing frustration with EV charging infrastructure underscores the limitations of government-driven solutions that fail to align with consumer behavior and market needs. While the intentions behind public EV charger installation are good, the execution has often fallen short, resulting in inefficient, inconvenient placements that frustrate drivers and slow down EV adoption.

By allowing the free market to take the lead, just as it did with gas stations, EV chargers could be placed in locations that make sense—where drivers already stop, such as highway-side gas stations. This would not only improve the charging experience but also reduce the inefficiencies of government-driven infrastructure development.

As EV adoption continues to grow, it’s time to rethink the role of government in infrastructure planning and allow market-driven forces to optimize the placement and efficiency of charging stations, ensuring that they serve drivers in the most convenient, natural way possible.

Dave Soulia | FYIVT

You can find FYIVT on YouTube | X(Twitter) | Facebook | Parler (@fyivt) | Gab | Instagram

#fyivt #EVChargingProblems #FreeMarketSolutions #EVInfrastructure

Support Us for as Little as $5 – Get In The Fight!!

Make a Big Impact with $25/month—Become a Premium Supporter!

Join the Top Tier of Supporters with $50/month—Become a SUPER Supporter!


Discover more from FYIVT

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

admin Avatar

Leave a Reply

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

By signing up, you agree to the our terms and our Privacy Policy agreement.




Weather Forecast

Ashburn

  • Today: 47°F – Light Rain
  • Tonight: 37°F – Mostly Cloudy
  • Friday: 48°F – Mostly Sunny
  • Friday Night: 28°F – Mostly Cloudy
  • Saturday: 38°F – Rain And Snow Likely
  • Saturday Night: 34°F – Light Rain
  • Sunday: 46°F – Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny
  • Sunday Night: 28°F – Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Snow
  • Monday: 39°F – Chance Light Snow
  • Monday Night: 29°F – Light Snow Likely
  • Tuesday: 37°F – Rain And Snow
  • Tuesday Night: 28°F – Rain And Snow
  • Wednesday: 37°F – Chance Freezing Rain
  • Wednesday Night: 29°F – Light Snow Likely