Charge it! - Challenges for the Growth of Electric Vehicles in the US

Charge it! Challenges for the Growth of Electric Vehicles in the US Charge it! Challenges for the Growth of Electric Vehicles in the US By Alexander Heil and Will Baltrus As countries worldwide look to transition to net zero carbon emissions, electric vehicles (EV) will play a major role in achieving this goal. [...] • The beneficial electrification of the auto sector in the US will depend on the construction of a nationwide charging network, in part provisioned by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and greater utilization of renewables. [...] As a result, sales for EVs in the first nine months of 2022 increased by 70 percent compared to the same period in 2021.6 In addition, to help alleviate the cost burden and incentivize consumers to purchase electric vehicles in the US, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 expands the tax credit for new purchases of electric vehicles with final assembly in the US up to $7,500 for ten years.7 The tax. [...] While still much less densely distributed than gas stations in the US, the greater density of the charging network would cater to the need for EV infrastructure outside of densely populated areas and minimize the risk of “range anxiety” that may prevent consumers from purchasing EVs. [...] But challenges remain, including the increased demand for minerals and resources used in battery manufacturing, the lack of capacity and resilience of the electric grid, and the absence of a widely distributed charging network.