EV INFRASTRUCTURE LAWYER ANSWERS WHY THERE ARE SO MANY BROKEN EV CHARGERS

EV Channels Review

This episode of the Out of Spec Podcast features EV infrastructure attorney Jason Goldfarb, who provides a deep dive into the persistent issue of broken public EV chargers in the US. Goldfarb identifies multifaceted root causes, including a 'land grab' mentality driven by federal funding, leading to poorly sited chargers with no consideration for utilization or maintenance. He criticizes the lack of robust contractual obligations and enforcement mechanisms in many deployment agreements, highlighting examples of chargers placed in impractical locations like airport ride-share pickup lines or areas with no demand. Goldfarb also points to insufficient due diligence, such as failing to conduct title searches or surveys, which can lead to legal access issues. He contrasts this with Tesla's data-driven approach to Supercharger placement. While acknowledging the government's efforts with NEVI funding, he argues that current regulations lack the 'teeth'—specific metrics and penalties—to ensure long-term reliability and maintenance. The core message emphasizes the need for better contracts, thorough due diligence, and incentivized accountability to truly fix the broken EV charging infrastructure.