New US electric car chargers are green leap of faith

New US electric car chargers are green leap of faith

MONTCLAIR, New Jersey: It has been a long road for electric cars in the United States, but myriad announcements by major automakers signal they are at last moving towards the mainstream. With more electrical models set to hit showrooms, the focus will shift to consumers’ willingness to pivot to electric cars at a time when conventional gas stations remain familiar and ubiquitous.

The fear of being stranded has long been viewed as a barrier for electric vehicles (EV). Addressing this unease, dubbed “range anxiety,” is driving President Joe Biden’s policy and bringing new EV charging companies to public markets. In New Jersey, a northeastern state with an autocentric orientation typical of the United States, officials recently announced $5.4 million in grants to build EV chargers at 27 high-traffic locations, including at 7-Eleven convenience stores, gas stations and outdoor strip malls.

The new chargers, which will allow motorists to fuel up in 20 to 30 minutes, aim to normalize EVs, counter range anxiety and create a path to a petroleum-free future. But the push highlights a quirk in the future of EVs: It is not clear exactly how much these new stations will be used, because most charging is still expected to take