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University of Connecticut study argues charging access, not range, is key EV barrier as US passes 250,000 public ports

By Eve

Researchers at the University of Connecticut College of Engineering have published a framework for EV charging equity that layers access data with flood risk, pollution, income and transport burden to identify where new stations would deliver the greatest benefit. The study comes as the United States passed 250,000 public charging ports across roughly 81,000 locations in 2026, including more than 178,000 Level 2 chargers and over 73,000 DC fast chargers. Public charging stations now account for about half of the nation's estimated 150,000 fueling locations, though California alone hosts roughly a quarter of the country's infrastructure.

Why it matters

The equity framework offers procurement teams and CPOs a data driven method to prioritise site selection in underserved areas, potentially shaping how federal and state funding is allocated. Understanding geographic disparities in access helps operators and funders target investment where it can close infrastructure gaps and expand the addressable EV market.

Source

Original title
“EV Charging Equity: Why Access, Not Range, Is the Real EV Barrier”
Published
6 October 2026

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