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Paren Inc., a San Francisco-based leader in EV charging data analytics, has released its first State of the Industry Report on U.S. EV Fast Charging for Q1 2025. This detailed report kicks off a quarterly series exploring the electric vehicle (EV) direct current fast charging (DCFC) landscape. It highlights key trends, challenges, and advancements, signaling the start of what Paren calls the “Charging 2.0” era—a shift toward improved reliability, customer experience, and profitability.
Key Highlights
- Reliability Boost: The U.S. Reliability Index for non-Tesla networks rose to 82.6 in Q1 2025, up from 81.2 in Q4 2024.
- Infrastructure Growth: Charging ports reached 55,580, with 10,839 stations, despite a seasonal dip in new additions.
- Utilization Patterns: Average utilization fell slightly to 16.2%, but urban areas often exceed 30%.
- Ports per Station: Non-Tesla networks now average 3.9 ports per station, up from 2.7 in Q1 2024.
- Connector Trends: CCS leads with 59% of new ports; NACS adoption remains early-stage.
- Pricing Insights: Fixed pricing dominates at 80%, followed by Time of Use at 16%.
- NEVI Program Risks: Pauses may limit rural and low-income area expansion.
- Charging 2.0 Shift: Focus turns to customer satisfaction and profitability.
The report reflects significant progress in the EV charging sector. Reliability improved to 82.6, driven by hardware upgrades and new entrants offering dependable technology. Bill Ferro, Paren’s CTO, emphasized, “The industry made real strides last year.” Infrastructure expanded with 3,667 new ports and 794 stations, though growth slowed due to winter weather—a typical Q1 trend.
Utilization dropped to 16.2% from 16.6%, but urban markets with high rideshare and apartment reliance show rates above 30%. Non-Tesla stations now average 3.9 ports, nearing the Tesla Supercharger’s 13.0, enhancing accessibility.
CCS remains the top connector at 59%, while NACS (J3400) is emerging slowly, with only 104 new non-Tesla ports. Pricing favors consistency, with 80% fixed rates. However, concerns linger about the NEVI program’s potential pause, which could stall rural charging growth, as noted by analyst Loren McDonald.
The “Charging 2.0” era marks a pivotal shift, prioritizing user experience over rapid, incentive-fueled expansion. Paren’s ongoing reports will guide stakeholders through this evolving industry.
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