EV Adoption Is Stalling—Despite Better Cars Than Ever

Range anxiety, broken infrastructure, and charging deserts continue to hold back EV adoption, according to the latest data.

Nearly 30 years after the first battery electric vehicles (BEVs) hit the market, the technology behind EVs has come a long way. Today’s electric cars are faster, safer, smarter, and more efficient than ever before. Automakers are releasing dozens of new models every year, expanding options across every price range, segment, and performance tier.

And yet—despite all this progress—EV adoption is stalling. According to a new AAA survey, only 16% of U.S. adults say they’re likely to buy an EV as their next car. That’s the lowest level of interest in over five years. What’s holding people back? It’s not the vehicles themselves. It’s the fear that they’ll get stuck with no place to charge.

Range Anxiety Is Real—and Worsening

EV “range anxiety” isn’t just a buzzword—it’s one of the top reasons Americans cite for not going electric. Alongside high battery repair costs and steep upfront prices, more than half of consumers say a lack of convenient charging options is a dealbreaker. The problem isn’t just about having a charger at home. It’s about confidence—confidence that you can take a road trip, visit family, or get home during a snowstorm without running out of power.

This issue is amplified in charging deserts: rural areas, disadvantaged neighborhoods, or underserved regions where public charging stations are few and far between. While EV ownership is surging in some urban pockets, other communities are being left behind, creating an equity gap in our transition to cleaner transportation.

The Infrastructure Isn’t Keeping Up

Despite a growing EV market and billions in federal investment commitments over the past few years, the public charging experience remains frustratingly unreliable. Broken chargers. Long wait times. Confusing payment systems. Stations hidden behind locked gates or closed after dark. It’s no wonder that public confidence in EV infrastructure is eroding.

The situation is made worse by recent policy changes. Federal and state funding for EV infrastructure is being scaled back. Projects are delayed or defunded. Meanwhile, private charging networks have little incentive to serve lower-income or rural communities that may not be as profitable.

This is a dangerous crossroads. Without a reliable, equitable, and user-friendly charging network, EV adoption will remain concentrated in a few ZIP codes—leaving the rest of the country out of the electric future.

It’s About More Than Sustainability

Electric vehicles are a critical part of the fight against climate change. But they’re also a pathway to lower household transportation costs and cleaner air in communities long burdened by pollution. EVs cost less to fuel and maintain. They offer drivers freedom from volatile gas prices and reduce our collective reliance on fossil fuels.

But when access to charging is a luxury—only available to those with a garage, a home charger, and the means to live near urban EV hubs—we lose out on that promise. A more sustainable transportation system cannot be built on inequity.

We Need Charging Confidence—Everywhere

To truly accelerate EV adoption, we need to make charging feel as easy, reliable, and available as filling up a gas tank. That means:

• Investing in charging infrastructure in underserved areas—not just highways and affluent suburbs.

  
  

• Creating solutions for renters and apartment dwellers who don’t have access to home charging.

  
  

• Designing backup and portable charging solutions for roadside emergencies and power outages.

  
  

• Supporting innovative technologies that bring charging to where people already are—rest stops, campsites, community centers, workplaces, and more.

  
  

Consumers aren’t asking for a miracle. They just want to know they can charge their car and get home safely.

A Portable Solution for a Widespread Problem

At EV Power Handle, we believe charging confidence starts with giving drivers control. Our portable EV charger is designed to work with any EV and plug into any power source—120V or 240V. Whether you're parked at a friend’s house, a remote cabin, or a small-town B&B, you should have the freedom to charge and go.

We see a future where range anxiety doesn’t hold drivers back—and where clean transportation is truly accessible to everyone, everywhere.

The vehicles are ready. It’s time the charging experience caught up.