Introduction

A federal court ruling has cleared one of the most significant obstacles facing EV charging deployment in the United States by blocking the Department of Transportation from freezing previously approved NEVI program funds, while new data from JD Power reveals that home charging costs are climbing and satisfaction among EV owners is declining as monthly electricity bills rise. San Francisco has moved to establish the first permanent curbside EV charging program in one of the nation's densest cities, Toyota and Lexus are now bundling dual-voltage Level 2 home chargers as standard equipment across all 2026 battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and Electrify America's deployment of more than 170 battery energy storage systems across its network has earned the company a top innovation award for solving grid capacity constraints at fast-charging locations. For Los Angeles property owners considering EV charger installation, these developments underscore that demand for reliable home and commercial charging infrastructure continues to accelerate and that working with a licensed electrical contractor like Shaffer Construction, Inc. ensures installations are designed to deliver long-term performance and value.

Federal Court Ruling Reopens Hundreds of Millions in Frozen NEVI Charging Funds

A federal judge has issued a ruling that puts stalled EV charging projects across the country back on track after the U.S. Department of Transportation froze approvals tied to the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. As Engineering News-Record reported, Judge Tana Lin of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington issued a partial summary judgment on January 23 enjoining USDOT and the Federal Highway Administration from suspending previously approved state EV infrastructure deployment plans or withholding NEVI formula funds tied to those plans. The court found that FHWA lacked authority to rescind approvals for plans that had already cleared federal review, calling the move "capricious" and ruling that the agency had unlawfully blocked access to congressionally apportioned funds.

The ruling has immediate implications for states that had paused or delayed EV charging station construction while waiting for clarity on federal funding. North Carolina's Department of Transportation issued a request for proposals in late March for the second round of NEVI funds to build and operate 16 charging stations along major highway corridors, and Pennsylvania announced $9 million in NEVI funding for 12 new public charging station projects connecting major travel corridors. FHWA has apportioned $885 million for fiscal year 2026, and updated program guidance now gives states greater flexibility on station spacing along corridors, the ability to build stations on any public road once corridor requirements are met, and faster approval processes. For Los Angeles and California, where the state has already been one of the most aggressive NEVI participants, the restored funding flow means that projects previously caught in bureaucratic limbo can proceed. As we covered in our analysis of NEVI program reboots and California's $79 million in charging grants, the federal infrastructure dollars are essential to building the network density that Los Angeles drivers and property owners need. Shaffer Construction works with commercial and residential clients throughout Los Angeles to design and install EV charging systems that meet NEVI program requirements and position properties to benefit from federal and state incentive programs.

JD Power Study Finds Home Charging Costs Rising as Level 2 Installations Deliver Highest Satisfaction

The latest JD Power 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Home Charging Study reveals that average monthly home charging costs have risen to $63, up $5 year over year, while cost satisfaction fell 11 points to 687 on a 1,000-point scale. As JD Power reported, the study surveyed 5,399 owners of 2020 through 2026 model year electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and found significant differences in satisfaction based on charger type. Level 2 permanently mounted chargers scored highest at 733 points and held steady from the prior year, while Level 2 portable chargers dropped 4 points to 710 and Level 1 portable chargers fell 12 points to just 569, reinforcing that a professional Level 2 installation delivers the best ownership experience.

The study also found that scheduled charging and off-peak rate optimization make a measurable difference in both cost and satisfaction. More than one-third of EV owners who always schedule charging reported average satisfaction scores of 734 compared to 700 among those who never schedule, and those who charge during off-peak hours spent an average of $65 per month compared to $71 for owners who do not schedule. Tesla led the Level 2 permanently mounted charger brand rankings with a score of 771, followed by Emporia at 761 and ClipperCreek at 760. The data makes a compelling case for Los Angeles homeowners to invest in a professionally installed Level 2 home charger rather than relying on portable or Level 1 solutions. As we discussed in our coverage of California's 2026 building code requirements for EV charging, permanent Level 2 installations are increasingly becoming a baseline expectation for residential properties. Shaffer Construction specializes in residential EV charger installation throughout Los Angeles, including the electrical load studies needed to ensure that a home's electrical panel can safely support Level 2 charging without requiring costly upgrades.

San Francisco Launches Permanent Curbside EV Charging Program for Renters and Apartment Dwellers

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has introduced legislation to create the city's first permanent curbside EV charging program, establishing a clear permitting pathway that will allow privately funded chargers to be installed on city streets for the first time. As Electrek reported, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency would serve as the lead permitting agency and is expected to begin accepting applications from curbside charging providers this summer. The program builds on a temporary pilot launched in April 2025 and targets the city's goal of installing 100 curbside chargers by 2030 as part of a broader objective to deploy more than 1,700 chargers across San Francisco streets, public lots, and garages.

The legislation is specifically designed to expand reliable charging access for renters and apartment dwellers who lack driveways or garages, a challenge that resonates strongly in Los Angeles where a significant portion of the population rents and many residential properties were built without dedicated parking that accommodates home charging equipment. San Francisco's approach of creating a streamlined permitting process and requiring private funding for the chargers themselves offers a model that Los Angeles could follow as the city works to expand its own charging infrastructure. We previously explored how Los Angeles has been expanding curbside charging alongside Tesla's record Supercharger deployments, and San Francisco's permanent program adds momentum to the trend of cities recognizing that curbside infrastructure is essential to equitable EV adoption. For Los Angeles property owners with multi-unit residential buildings, Shaffer Construction provides expert design and installation of shared charging solutions that serve tenants while adding measurable property value, with systems designed to accommodate future expansion as EV adoption rates continue climbing.

Toyota and Lexus Bundle Standard Dual-Voltage Home Chargers Across All 2026 Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles

Beginning with the 2026 model year, every Toyota and Lexus battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sold in the United States will include a standard dual-voltage 120V/240V AC home charger capable of delivering up to 7.7 kilowatts, enough to fully charge a vehicle overnight from approximately 10 percent under ideal conditions. As Toyota announced, the company has also partnered with Treehouse, a software-enabled platform for home electrification, to simplify the charger installation process for customers who need a dedicated 240-volt circuit or panel capacity assessment. Toyota had previously bundled dual-voltage charging cables with its battery electric vehicles since the 2024 model year and has now extended the inclusion to plug-in hybrids across all states, moving beyond the requirements of California and other zero-emission vehicle jurisdictions.

The decision by the world's largest automaker to include Level 2 charging capability as standard equipment signals that home charging infrastructure is no longer an optional accessory but a core part of the EV ownership proposition. Every Toyota and Lexus EV buyer will now arrive at their home with a charger in hand, but many will discover that their existing electrical panel, wiring, or circuit capacity cannot support the 240-volt, 40-amp circuit that a 7.7-kilowatt charger requires. This is where professional electrical assessment and installation become critical. As our coverage of NEC 2026 qualified installer requirements explained, code compliance and proper installation are essential for both safety and long-term charger reliability. Shaffer Construction provides comprehensive home EV charger installation services in Los Angeles, including panel evaluations, circuit installations, and the permitting required to ensure that new charger installations meet all applicable electrical codes and utility requirements.

Electrify America Deploys 170 Battery Energy Storage Systems to Solve Grid Constraints at Fast-Charging Stations

Electrify America has deployed more than 170 battery energy storage systems across its U.S. charging network, representing over 65,000 kilowatt-hours of total storage capacity, and the achievement earned the company a 2026 BIG Innovation Award from the Business Intelligence Group. As Electrify America announced, the BESS technology addresses one of the most persistent challenges in fast-charging deployment by decoupling charging station output from real-time grid availability, storing energy during low-demand periods and releasing it when multiple vehicles are charging simultaneously. The approach allows Electrify America to deliver hyper-fast charging at 350 kilowatts in locations where the local electrical grid alone cannot support the required power levels, significantly reducing the need for costly utility infrastructure upgrades that can delay station deployment by months or years.

The BESS strategy is particularly relevant for expanding fast-charging access in underserved and rural communities where grid capacity limitations have historically prevented deployment. By pairing battery storage with charging stations, Electrify America has demonstrated a scalable model for bringing high-power charging to locations that would otherwise require prohibitively expensive grid interconnection upgrades. For commercial property owners in Los Angeles considering DC fast-charging installations, the lesson from Electrify America's approach is that energy storage and smart load management are becoming essential components of charging infrastructure design. Shaffer Construction helps Los Angeles commercial clients evaluate their electrical capacity and design charging installations that account for grid constraints, demand management, and future expansion needs, ensuring that charging infrastructure investments are built on a foundation of sound electrical engineering and code-compliant installation practices.

Conclusion

The court ruling reopening NEVI funds removes a major barrier to charging infrastructure expansion at the federal level, while the JD Power data confirms that professionally installed Level 2 home chargers deliver the highest satisfaction and best cost management for EV owners. San Francisco's permanent curbside charging program demonstrates that cities are moving beyond pilot projects to create lasting infrastructure for the growing population of EV drivers who lack dedicated home charging, Toyota's decision to bundle Level 2 chargers as standard equipment across its entire 2026 electric lineup will drive a new wave of home installation demand, and Electrify America's battery storage deployments prove that innovative engineering solutions can overcome the grid constraints that have slowed fast-charging expansion in many communities.

Ready to install EV charging infrastructure that meets the growing demand from electric vehicle drivers across Los Angeles? Shaffer Construction, Inc. provides expert design, permitting, and installation services for residential and commercial charging systems, electrical load studies, and complete project management that helps you capture available incentives including the federal 30C tax credit and LADWP rebates before their respective deadlines.

Shaffer Construction, Inc.
325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone: (323) 642-8509
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.shaffercon.com