In 2030, the majority of U.S. EVs are anticipated to be located in suburban areas.

Most U.S. EVs Are Expected To Be In Suburban Areas In 2030

The advancement of electrification varies across regions, leading to an unequal distribution of Electric vehicles in the U.S. A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, as highlighted by the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, projects that out of the estimated 33 million electric vehicles by 2030, approximately 60% will be in suburban areas, equating to around 20 million EVs.

The remaining 40% of EVs are anticipated to be in rural (20%) and urban (20%) locations. This suggests that the majority of EV owners will likely be commuters residing in suburban areas with private parking and home charging setups, making them a key market for EVs.

On the contrary, urban areas—with a strong emphasis on zero-emission transportation—typically lack home charging options, leading to lower mileage and potential affordability issues due to higher upfront costs. The study also reveals that 40% of EV charging needs in urban areas will rely on public DC fast chargers, compared to 20% in suburban areas and 10% in rural regions. AC Level 2 charging will continue to dominate across all locations, with some addition of AC Level 1 chargers.

Overall, the shift towards electrification may significantly impact the distribution and usage patterns of electric vehicles, influencing the infrastructure development for charging networks in different areas.