In the evolving landscape of electric vehicle (EV) ownership in the United States, the journey has been marked by significant challenges, particularly in the realm of charging infrastructure. This scenario has been notably stark for those driving non-Tesla vehicles, given the exclusivity and breadth of Tesla’s Supercharger network. However, recent developments have ushered in a wave of optimism across the EV community. In a historic move, nearly every major automaker has now entered agreements with Tesla, allowing access to over 15,000 Superchargers through an adapter, with timelines starting this year or the next, depending on the manufacturer. Moreover, a pivotal shift is on the horizon in 2025, with automakers planning to transition from the Combined Charging System (CCS) to the North American Charging Standard (NACS). At the time of writing, Ford stands as the sole non-Tesla brand whose EVs can harness the Supercharger network, heralding a new era of charging accessibility.
Despite these advancements, certain regions in the U.S. continue to grapple with a dire scarcity of DC fast chargers, particularly for vehicles equipped with CCS. This disparity hits close to home for me, in eastern North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a location of personal significance and the backdrop of the renowned Netflix series “Outer Banks”—though, notably, the series wasn’t filmed there. This area remains a “CCS desert,” severely limiting options for non-Tesla EV travelers.
The introduction of a new 12-stall Supercharger station, soon to be accessible to a broader range of EVs, offers a glimmer of hope. Yet, for those approaching from any direction other than Virginia, the risk of running out of charge is a genuine worry. From the west, the last notable DC Fast Charger is an Electrify America station in Rocky Mount, NC, equipped with four stalls of varying capacities (150kW to 350kW), offering above average reliability for an Electrify America station. Beyond this point, challenges mount, with a notable 120-mile gap devoid of substantial charging options until reaching the new Tesla Supercharger at the Outer Banks Mall, which is currently compatible with Ford EVs using an NACS adapter, and other non-Tesla EVs later this year.
Curiosity about additional charging options in Tarboro, Plymouth, and Columbia, NC, may arise, only to find limitations. 25 miles east of the Rocky Mount Electrify America, lies a single-stall 62.5kW ChargePoint station. While having only one stall, in a pinch, it offers for some, a necessary lifeline to ensure uninterrupted travel considering the sparse charging options along the way. Plymouth houses a V2 Tesla Supercharger, exclusive to Tesla vehicles and will not support others without an upgrade—a prospect with no current confirmation. Meanwhile, Columbia saw the recent installation of a Freewire 200kW CCS station, which, unexpectedly, ceased to function just over a month after its activation, further exacerbating the charging infrastructure void en route to this tourist haven, frequented by over 5 million visitors annually.
(Update: As of July 2, 2024, the 200kW Freewire station in Columbia, NC is now operational)
If or when you manage to reach the Outer Banks, for non-Tesla EV drivers, particularly those piloting a Ford EV with access to the Supercharger network via an adapter, navigating this terrain demands somewhat meticulous planning. This is because navigating this terrain involves only having access to a singular centrally located Supercharger with 12 stalls in Nags Head. Those driving other EV brands face even starker options, with few hotels in the northern Outer Banks offering Level 2 charging. Establishments like The Cavalier By The Sea in Kill Devil Hills, Ramada Plaza in Nags Head, and the Holiday Inn in Kitty Hawk emerge as a refuge in a vast charging desert, albeit exclusively for their guests.
The southern Outer Banks boasts two 62.5kW ChargePoint stations in Avon, starkly isolated 160 miles from the aforementioned station in Tarboro, NC. Bridging this gap poses a formidable challenge, underlining the profound range anxiety faced by EV travelers in this region.
The broader implication of these challenges is a call to action for charging network providers like Electrify America and EVgo, emphasizing the importance of not scaling back efforts in light of the recent Tesla Supercharger accessibility agreements. The reality is that opening up Tesla’s network, while a positive development, does not singularly resolve the nuanced and diverse needs of the EV driving population.
As we cast our gaze to 2024, the hope is for a concerted industry effort to address these gaps, expanding the charging infrastructure to underserved areas and ensuring that the journey towards electric mobility is as inclusive and seamless as possible, across all corners of the United States.
