The sudden increase in electric vehicle (EV) adoption is bringing to light an unexpected challenge. Despite being the third-largest EV market in the U.S., Los Angeles and the surrounding area face a severe lack of charging infrastructure. A recent study by real estate giant CBRE labeled the region a “charging desert,” highlighting the widening gap between EV ownership and available charging options.
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What is the “Charging Desert” and how was it discovered?
CBRE used an advanced digital mapping tool to assess EV charging needs nationwide to assist its clients. The tool aims to inform charging networks and property owners to help them find and select the best locations to install new EV chargers.
The digital mapping tool combines data from about 80 sources, including mobile phones, home type, EV ownership, etc. By comparing these sources, CBRE was able to gain valuable insights, such as whether most EV owners charge their vehicles at home or at work.
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Electric car charging station (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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Los Angeles Charging Desert: A Key Area with Inadequate EV Infrastructure
The tool revealed that parts of Los Angeles are home to charging deserts – areas without enough public fast charging stations to meet the local needs. Charging deserts include:
- Inglewood
- Long sandy beach
- Sherman Oaks
- Studio City
- Lomita
- Southwest Torrance
- Westwood (UCLA)
- Fullerton (California State University, Fullerton)
- Redondo Beach
Electric car charging station (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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Why do “charging deserts” exist?
“Charging deserts” are a combination of factors, including but not limited to a strong rental market that means most people don’t have the ability to charge at home;
For example, Inglewood is home to roughly 70% renter residents. Despite there being more than 1,000 registered EVs in the area, and many more on the roads every day, the area lacks public chargers. Additionally, the area suffers from insufficient power infrastructure, including substations to distribute additional power. And in densely populated urban areas like Los Angeles, limited parking space makes it difficult to install charging stations.
However, Los Angeles is installing EV chargers on streetlights to meet the growing demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
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Electric car charging station (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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EV charging infrastructure challenges in the United States
The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market has experienced significant growth, hitting an all-time high with over one million EVs sold last year, but the share of electric vehicles in light vehicle sales is declining slightly, reportedly falling from 8.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 7% in the first quarter of 2024. Cox AutomotiveDespite this drop, the survey predicts a “second big wave” of potential EV buyers will arrive in the second half of the 2020s.
Recent analysis from CBRE highlights that there are still significant gaps in the charging infrastructure needed to facilitate this transition, underscoring the urgent need for increased investment and development in EV charging solutions.
Important points about the cart
In Los Angeles, there are nearly 588,000 registered EVs, accounting for 4.2% of cars driven, yet there are significant gaps in readily available charging facilities for EVs. While the city is trying to meet the demand by installing chargers on streetlight poles, Los Angeles and the rest of the country still have a long way to go before the infrastructure is in place to support America’s transition away from gasoline-powered vehicles.
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