Pump to Plug – Part III: A 97% Uptime Goal Isn’t a Hardware Challenge—It’s a Systems Challenge
For many observers, the reliability challenge in EV charging still sounds like a familiar refrain: “If the chargers were just better, we’d hit 97% uptime.” The underlying assumption is that higher quality hardware, more rugged enclosures, better power modules, improved connectors and smarter firmware would solve the nascent problem. All of that matters—but none of […]
Pump to Plug – Part II: The Emerging Workforce Behind America’s Charging Infrastructure
Introduction For decades, a quiet but essential workforce has kept America’s fueling network running: gas‑pump service technicians. Spread across tens of thousands of stations, these technicians maintain dispensers, meters, payment terminals, and safety systems that keep the liquid‑fuel economy functioning. In the gasoline world, the U.S. service ecosystem includes an estimated 7,000–19,000 dedicated pump and […]
From Pump to Plug: What Gas Stations Can Teach Us About Managing DC Fast Chargers
When a gas pump fails, a service truck is dispatched within hours. When a DC fast charger fails, it can sit dark for months. This single contrast captures a core truth: the fueling industry mastered reliability through lifecycle discipline — warranties, service contracts, inspections, and preventative maintenance. EV charging, by comparison, is still in its […]