EV Metric to Close Data Gaps and Fix Charging Access

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EV Metric to Close Data Gaps and Fix Charging Access

August 1, 2025

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle, electric cars, Electric Vehicle Charging, Green Energy, green living

New EV Metric to Resolve Charging Deserts

Researchers at George Washington University have unveiled a new tool to fix a growing problem in the electric vehicle (EV) world—charging inequality. As more drivers switch to EVs, public charging access hasn’t kept up. This issue is especially visible in rural and underserved urban areas. The new EV accessibility metric could help change that.

Unlike traditional EV metrics that just count the number of chargers, this tool dives deeper. It measures access based on travel time, station demand, charger type, and even real-time availability. That gives local planners and state officials a much clearer idea of where EV infrastructure falls short—and where to focus investment.

Why Simple Charger Counts Don’t Work with this EV Metric

Most current models use basic ratios—such as the number of EVs per charger or chargers per capita. But those numbers miss key details. For example, two neighborhoods may each have 10 chargers. However, if one has high demand and slow speeds, users will wait longer or drive farther.

Infographic comparing traditional EV charging metrics—such as chargers per EV and chargers per capita—with new accessibility-based metrics like travel time, station demand, charger type, and real-time availability. — This infographic contrasts outdated EV charging measurements with a new accessibility-based approach that better reflects real-world usability and equity in charging infrastructure.

This new EV metric considers:

How far and how long a driver must travel to reach a charger The type of charger (fast vs. Level 2) Whether it is usually occupied The surrounding population’s charging needs

These insights show actual usability—not just infrastructure on paper.

EV Metric Better Planning for Equity and Efficiency

This data could drive smarter, fairer EV metric investment. Planners can identify “charging deserts” and address systemic gaps, especially in Black, Latino, low-income, and rural communities. That’s essential as billions in federal funding roll out through programs like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

Agencies could use the new metric to:

Prioritize high-need locations Set better performance benchmarks Avoid overbuilding in low-demand areas Align new chargers with local travel patterns

In short, it makes infrastructure smarter, not just bigger.

Toward a National Standard

The George Washington team plans to publish the full methodology for the EV metric and offer it to states, cities, utilities, and also transit agencies. They hope it becomes a national standard. When paired with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this tool could help EV infrastructure meet real-world needs—equitably and efficiently.

“This is about more than just access,” said one researcher. “It’s about creating an EV future that works for everyone—not just those in well-served neighborhoods.”