Rural America Falling Behind in EV Charging Infrastructure
By Bree Murphy
While the number of electric vehicle (EV) chargers is growing across the United States, rural areas continue to lag behind.
More than 75 percent of metropolitan counties have at least one fast EV charging port, compared with fewer than 50 percent of rural counties. Although there are more than 60,000 fast charging ports nationwide, only a small share are located in rural communities.
One reason for this disparity is low utilization, or the amount of time chargers are actively used to power vehicles. In major cities, utilization rates can reach up to 40 percent, but in rural areas, they often fall below 20 percent. Montana and the Dakotas, for example, report some of the lowest utilization rates and fewest charging ports in the country.
This creates a dilemma: rural drivers are hesitant to switch to EVs because of limited charging options, while investors are reluctant to build charging stations in areas with few EVs on the road.
There is good news, however. Several government initiatives are working to close this gap. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program has funded charging projects in 15 states, with notable expansions in Arizona and Ohio.
In Arizona, La Paz County alone hosts 140 charging ports thanks to its interstate connection between Los Angeles and Phoenix. Ohio has also seen a surge in charging installations along major highways.
Beyond NEVI, some utility companies are offering additional support for EV infrastructure. These include incentives to prepare sites for charger installation, rebates for purchasing charging hardware, and programs that help offset the costs of connecting new charging sites to the grid.
Rural America must be part of the nation’s transition to electric transportation. Expanding charging infrastructure in small towns and along remote highways won’t just make EV ownership more practical—it will help ensure that the benefits of cleaner, more sustainable transportation reaches every corner of the country.
