US EV Charging Progress: Momentum Builds, Gaps Remain

The Sierra Club has released a new assessment of state-level progress on electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the United States. The findings paint a cautiously optimistic picture: many states are adopting dedicated EV charging plans and increasing the number of publicly accessible chargers, signalling growing political and financial commitment to the energy transition.

However, the report is clear that momentum alone is not enough. Coverage remains highly uneven, with rural and lower-income communities still largely underserved. Fast-charging corridors along highways are expanding, but urban-rural disparities mirror challenges seen in Europe, including in countries like Hungary, where EV infrastructure is similarly concentrated in major cities.

Federal funding — most notably from the US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — has been a critical driver of progress. Billions of dollars have been allocated specifically for EV charging networks under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) programme. Yet bureaucratic delays between funding approval and actual charger installation remain a persistent bottleneck.

For EVs to reach mass adoption, the Sierra Club argues that states must go beyond simply installing more chargers. Reliable uptime, interoperable payment systems, higher-power fast chargers, and accessible home and multi-unit dwelling charging solutions are all essential components of a truly functional network that serves all drivers equally.