The conventional wisdom about electric vehicle charging focuses on a perceived disadvantage: it takes longer than pumping gas. But this surface-level comparison misses a profound shift in how we’ll think about “refueling” in an electric future.
The Evolution of EV Infrastructure
“We’re in a much better place in 2022 than were in 2016,” explains Zak Lefevre, CEO of ChargeLab, in a recent Category Visionaries episode. “But I would still describe the state of EV infrastructure as emerging.” This observation, from someone who’s been building in the space since 2016, reveals an important truth: we’re still in the early stages of a fundamental shift in how we think about fueling vehicles.
The Counterintuitive Advantage
While most coverage focuses on charging speeds, Zak reveals a more nuanced reality: “The negative of the EV side is it’s almost impossible to add as much range as you can with a gas car… you still need to be plugged in for 10-15, even 20 minutes to kind of really top up.”
But here’s the counterintuitive part: this apparent disadvantage enables a more convenient fueling model. “While it’s less convenient for me to fill my EV along the highway than a gasoline vehicle, I almost never go to a gas station because I plug in at home,” Zak explains.
The Infrastructure Density Insight
Perhaps the most striking insight from Zak’s perspective is about infrastructure density: “There’s actually going to be more than one EV charging port for every electric vehicle on the road.” This prediction challenges the common perception that EV infrastructure will mirror gas station distribution.
This higher density is necessary because of a fundamental shift in fueling patterns. As Zak notes, “If you’re an average American or average Canadian, you’re typically driving within ten or 20 miles of your home.” This reality means most charging will happen where cars naturally spend time, not at dedicated fueling locations.
The Future of Charging Infrastructure
Looking ahead, Zak suggests we’re moving toward a distributed model: “We’re talking about hundreds of millions of charging stations… chargers at every apartment building, every single family home, every grocery store, and of course, every convenience store and gas station.”
This vision represents more than just a change in technology—it’s a fundamental shift in how we think about vehicle fueling. Instead of making special trips to refuel, charging will happen wherever cars are parked.
What This Means for Different Stakeholders
This evolution has different implications for various stakeholders:
- For Property Owners: Charging infrastructure will become as essential as parking spaces
- For Retailers: Every parking spot is a potential fueling station
- For Drivers: The concept of “going to fuel up” becomes increasingly obsolete
- For Infrastructure Providers: The opportunity is in distributed networks, not centralized stations
The Hidden Pattern
Behind these changes is a pattern that applies beyond just EV charging: when infrastructure becomes distributed rather than centralized, what looks like a disadvantage (longer charging time) can enable a more convenient overall experience (charging while parked).
In a recent episode of Category Visionaries, Zak Lefevre shared these insights about the evolution of EV charging infrastructure. As CEO of ChargeLab, he’s been working to solve charging infrastructure challenges since 2016.
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