Charging your electric vehicle on the road? This policy could make it a whole lot easier. Photo: Shutterstock.
I’ve been interested in buying an electric vehicle (EV) for years. As someone who cares about climate change and cleaner transportation, the appeal is obvious: Lower emissions, lower fuel and maintenance costs, and a chance to do my part for the environment.
But I also grew up in the Midwest. Gas stations are already few and far between and driving one or two hours between cities is completely normal. That experience left me with a nagging question: If I bought an electric car while living in New England, where charging infrastructure is comparatively robust, how confidently could I drive it back home?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that one of the largest barriers for me wasn’t the vehicle itself—it was uncertainty about charging. And that uncertainty exists whether you live in the Midwest or New England.
But the fix to that uncertainty is relatively simple: increase transparency around EV charger data.
Despite Lots of Progress, Charger Anxiety is Still Real
One of the many benefits of going electric is the ability to easily and cheaply charge up at home or wherever we work, removing the need for charging stations on every corner the way we see gas pumps today. It’s no surprise that EV drivers do most of their charging from the convenience of their own home or jobsite. Of course, sometimes drivers need to repower on the road.
For many drivers considering going electric, the concern goes beyond whether chargers exist. It’s whether they’ll be available and working when needed. Questions such as “Will I be able to find a charger? Will it be occupied when I arrive? What if it’s broken or offline?” often accompany any road trip.
Even in regions with relatively extensive charging networks, uncertainty can discourage potential buyers. Unlike gas stations, which you can typically spot from highway signage, electric vehicle chargers often require drivers to rely on multiple apps or websites that may not provide complete or up-to-date information. According to research from the Salata Institute, only 34% of electric vehicle charging stations currently provide real-time information about their status and availability. In some parts of the country, you’ll find gaps of more than 1,300 miles where no charger status data is available.
The lack of a centralized, easily searchable source for reliable charger information can become a significant obstacle for consumers deciding whether an EV fits their lifestyle. For prospective buyers, especially those looking at increasingly affordable used electric cars or trucks, that uncertainty may prompt them to delay or abandon the purchase altogether.
The same research from the Salata Institute estimates that widespread access to real-time charging data could increase new electric vehicle sales by 6.4%. That’s equivalent to putting approximately 3.5 million additional EVs on the road by 2030. The boost in sales would cut up to 15.2 million metric tons of carbon emissions in 2030 alone.
A Simple Policy Fix: Better Charger Data
The good news is that a relatively straightforward policy change could make a big difference – and state leaders have the power to pursue it. That policy requires operators to share transparent EV charging data in a publicly accessible format for all public chargers.
Many charging stations already collect information about charger locations, availability, and functionality internally. Federally funded charging projects, including those under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, already must provide that same data to the Federal Highway Administration. The missing piece is requiring operators to share data in a consolidated, standardized, and publicly accessible format for all public chargers.
That’s where this policy solution comes in. State governments can legislate a real-time data-sharing requirement for all new charging stations. The law could also require charging station operators to adopt common standards, which would make the process easier for operators and reduce resistance to data sharing. Improving charger data transparency is a relatively low-cost policy that can make going electric more convenient without requiring billions of dollars in new infrastructure spending.
Vermont has already charged forward with this kind of policy. With CLF’s leadership, in 2026, its legislature passed a law that will increase transparency around EV charger data. Massachusetts also has enacted requirements for certain publicly funded chargers to provide real-time data. Now, CLF and our partners are encouraging other states to follow their example.
Helping More People Upgrade to Electric
Electric vehicles, particularly used EVs, can significantly cut costs for households while reducing both air and climate pollution. But consumers need confidence that the charging experience will be reliable before they’re willing to take the leap.
Sometimes effective policies aren’t flashy. Making charger information visible, accurate, and accessible may sound like a small technical fix, but it could make the upgrade to electric feel far more practical for countless drivers – including me.
In any area of my life, my decisions are made easier when I have access to plenty of information. So, a law or policy like this would make it much easier for me to go electric. With this real-time data at my fingertips, I could confidently traverse back home to the Midwest.
Jordan Morgan was a Clean Energy and Climate 2026 Summer Intern for CLF.
