By EC Policy and Campaigns intern Max Patten
As a Boulder, Colorado-based policy and campaigns intern at the Electrification Coalition (EC) this summer, I opted to work from the EC office in DC while staying with family in the metro area. The in-person opportunities were invaluable, but it was also as good an excuse as any to engage in the most classic of American pastimes—an epic cross-country road trip.
In early June, I loaded up my bags, a gravel bike, and set forth for a 1,600-mile journey in my pre-owned Polestar 2 electric vehicle (EV). Two months later, I took a few days off to drive 600 miles north and visit my girlfriend and family in Maine, before the two of us finally returned West along the northern U.S., passing through Niagara Falls, and back to Colorado on a grand 2,300-mile trip. What follows are three takeaways from the road trip experience relating to the state of charging in the United States.
1. Even with an older, less efficient car, charging was abundant enough to eliminate range anxiety, and I could choose where to stop based on price and location
Charging anxiety was a much-discussed point in the early years of EV adoption, but since early models like the original Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S, considerable progress has been made both in vehicle range and public fast charging infrastructure. While I did encounter unreliable sites when I first got my EV in 2023, two years later, industry data and my own firsthand experience demonstrate a much-improved situation. With a little help from apps like PlugShare and trust in increasingly abundant major networks, I didn’t encounter any offline or bricked chargers on any of my trips this summer.
My EV, a five-year-old Polestar 2 wasn’t the most efficient EV when it came out, so I “only” get 200 miles of range. Newer, now comparably priced or even cheaper cars like the Chevy Equinox EV rate well over 300 miles of range by the EPA. Even with my less efficient, smaller-battery car, combining a Tesla adapter for Superchargers, other major networks like Electrify America, and smaller independent fast charging stalls hosted by municipalities or local businesses, I had multiple options to choose from whenever I needed a charge. Nearly all of these options were listed in Google Maps with real-time status (letting me know how many stalls were online and not in use), and pricing was easy to compare on PlugShare. It was easy to plan stops ahead of time to know what our next charge would cost and what amenities we’d find accompanying it.
My remaining nitpick? As a tech-savvy, veteran EV driver used to navigating apps, my road trip was easy. But for newer drivers and less smartphone-enthused users, it’s important that more public charging works like a gas pump and just takes a credit card tap or chip. While many networks support this, prominent holdouts don’t—which can really sour the day of a newer EV driver forced to waste 5–10 minutes setting up a new account. Additionally, EV charging stations, as they gain prominence, should consider transparent real-world pricing displayed prominently by the station, instead of confining such information to a proprietary app!
2. Hotels, restaurants, and local businesses benefit from hosting charging as more drivers opt for EVs.
One of my favorite parts of EV road tripping is the 25-minute “recharge” afforded my body every 2.5–3 hours of driving. During these stops, my girlfriend and I would get snacks, go to the restroom, and if one were in walking distance, even get a meal at a sit-down restaurant. While there are an increasing number of EV charging stations right off the highway at major rest stops and gas stations, many are situated in adjacent towns, encouraging drivers and their passengers to stretch their legs while exploring the surrounding area and contributing to the local economy.
I stopped at EV charging-friendly hotels every night of my multi-day journeys (three days from Colorado to DC, four days home from Maine) so I’d start the next day with a full battery. A Hilton executive went on the record recently to report that EV charging is a top driver of bookings for their chain, scoring above pools and free breakfast. Similarly, large gas/convenience chains like Sheetz, Buc-ee’s, and Wawa are now courting EV drivers with convenient fast chargers next to their pumps. If EV drivers are going to dwell at stops for at least 15 minutes, it’s easy to see why businesses are eagerly chasing their patronage. My personal favorite from this summer? In North Kansas City, my girlfriend and I stayed at a hotel with free charging where we walked a short distance to get some BBQ at the trendy Iron District food hall. KC BBQ did not disappoint!
3. The pace of charging deployment is rapid, with new sites and forward-looking planning from private and local investment—it’s not solely dependent on federal dollars
Programs like NEVI and CFI have been enormously helpful for filling in gaps for rural charging, and at EC, we’re eagerly awaiting the resumption of funding. But fast charging— particularly along highway corridors in the Northeast and even I-70 in the Rockies—is already growing in abundance. Recent industry data from 2025 and the last several quarters suggest that charging is ramping up, with major players investing ahead of time to ensure tomorrow’s EV drivers can go anywhere they please. The GM EVgo sites with canopies, trash cans, squee-gees, and locations at Pilot Flying J stations are just one example of a flagship amenity-driven network EV owners would have dreamed of last decade. Much of the money to fund these sites is private; some is made possible with local grants from states and municipalities.
This was heartening to see, given the sensationalist headlines painting a calamitous picture of the EV landscape. On the ground, EV drivers like me are experiencing a much rosier future, allowing us to travel to beautiful places stress-free. While the accelerated end of EV incentives is extremely concerning and will slow the pace of growth, the future of EVs for transportation is clearly a matter of when, not if. Had I done similar road trips even last summer, I’d have still made the journey with little stress, but with longer gaps between chargers and fewer amenities while stopped Just five years ago, such a trip might not be possible at all with most EVs at an affordable price point.
