Introduction

The EV charging industry emerged from the 2026 EV Charging Summit in Las Vegas with a clear message: infrastructure deployment is no longer a technology challenge but an execution problem, and the companies that solve reliability, grid connection, and driver experience will define the next decade of electric transportation. In the same week, Stellantis became the final major automaker to open Tesla Supercharger access for its EV brands, EVgo reported deploying more than 1,200 new fast-charging stalls in 2025 with plans to accelerate in 2026, and a new analysis from the Natural Resources Defense Council revealed that grid connection delays are adding an estimated $87 billion in unnecessary costs to the national charging buildout. Meanwhile, Lamborghini's decision to scrap its all-electric supercar due in part to inadequate charging infrastructure underscores a reality that property owners and contractors understand well: the quality and availability of charging stations directly shapes market demand. At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we help Los Angeles commercial and residential property owners navigate these developments through expert EV charger installation, electrical infrastructure upgrades, and project planning that positions properties for reliable, future-ready charging.

2026 EV Charging Summit Declares Industry Has Entered the Execution Phase

The 2026 EV Charging Summit and Expo, held March 17 through 19 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, drew more than 5,000 attendees, 200 speakers, and 300 exhibitors for North America's largest annual gathering focused on charging infrastructure. The central theme that emerged from three days of sessions and panel discussions was unambiguous: the technology works, and the challenge now is deploying it reliably and affordably at scale. As EV Charging Stations reported, the summit's defining insight was that "EV charging is no longer a technology problem. It's about execution. Those who do it well will thrive. Those who don't won't."

One of the most significant revelations involved the economics of demand charges. Many charging network operators are intentionally limiting power delivery to manage utility costs, even when their hardware is capable of delivering higher speeds. A charger rated for 350 kilowatts may deliberately underperform because the demand charges associated with peak power usage can spike dramatically when even a single vehicle charges at full speed. This creates a growing gap between driver expectations and the actual charging experience, and it means that the electrical infrastructure behind a charging station matters as much as the charger hardware itself. For Los Angeles property owners considering commercial EV charger installations, understanding demand charge structures and working with an experienced electrical contractor to optimize service capacity is essential to operating a cost-effective charging station.

The summit also highlighted a surprising disconnect within the industry itself: approximately 70 percent of attendees actively involved in EV infrastructure do not personally drive electric vehicles. This means many of the people designing and deploying charging stations are optimizing for amenities, retail integration, and branding rather than the factors drivers actually prioritize, which is straightforward reliability and availability. One city representative reported budgeting $25,000 per charger annually solely for vandalism repairs, revealing hidden operational costs that affect the business model for every public charging deployment. These operational realities reinforce why working with a qualified electrical contractor who understands both the installation and the long-term operational requirements of charging infrastructure is critical for any commercial property owner in the Los Angeles market. Shaffer Construction brings that dual perspective to every project, from initial electrical load studies through final commissioning and ongoing maintenance planning.

Stellantis Completes Supercharger Access as Every Major Automaker Now Charges on Tesla Network

Stellantis officially activated Tesla Supercharger access for its battery-electric vehicle brands on March 19, 2026, making Dodge, Jeep, Ram, FIAT, and Maserati the final major automaker group to join the network. As CleanTechnica reported, owners of compatible Stellantis EVs can now charge at more than 27,500 Tesla Supercharging stalls across North America using a $250 Free2move Charge NACS-to-CCS1 adapter available through certified dealerships. Compatible models include the Dodge Charger Daytona, Jeep Wagoneer S, Jeep Recon, Ram ProMaster EV, FIAT 500e, and the Maserati GranTurismo, GranCabrio, and Grecale Folgore lines.

This milestone effectively means that virtually every electric vehicle sold in the United States can now access the Tesla Supercharger network, which operates more than 36,000 stalls and holds a 52 percent share of all DC fast-charging infrastructure in the country. The 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona will be the first Stellantis model with a native NACS charging port, eliminating the need for an adapter entirely. As we covered in our earlier analysis of Stellantis Supercharger access and DC fast-charging growth, this trend toward universal network compatibility has been building throughout 2025 and 2026 as automakers standardize on the NACS connector. For property owners in Los Angeles who have installed or are planning to install EV charging stations, this standardization simplifies equipment selection and ensures maximum compatibility with the broadest possible range of vehicles visiting their properties.

EVgo Deploys Over 1,200 New Fast-Charging Stalls in 2025 and Targets Accelerated Growth

EVgo reported deploying more than 1,200 new DC fast-charging stalls in 2025, expanding its total network to approximately 5,100 stalls across 47 states. As CleanTechnica detailed, the company achieved $384 million in revenue for the year, a 50 percent year-over-year increase, while its customer base surpassed 1.6 million accounts and public network throughput reached 366 gigawatt-hours. EVgo's strategy focuses on positioning fast chargers at high-traffic retail destinations and urban centers, a deployment model that aligns with the needs of commercial property owners who want to attract EV-driving customers and tenants.

The company's growth occurred despite political headwinds around federal EV policy, demonstrating that private-sector investment in charging infrastructure is driven by the cumulative stock of electric vehicles on the road rather than short-term policy shifts. EVgo's CFO Keefer Lehner noted on a recent earnings call that even assuming flat EV sales in 2026, at least 1.2 million new EVs will enter service, sustaining charging demand growth. As we reported in our coverage of the US crossing 70,000 DC fast-charging ports, the national network is adding more than 1,000 new DC fast-charging stalls per month and is on pace to reach 80,000 ports before the end of 2026. For Los Angeles property owners, EVgo's aggressive expansion into urban retail locations signals that competitive pressure to offer on-site charging is intensifying across the commercial real estate market. Properties without charging infrastructure risk falling behind as drivers increasingly choose destinations where they can top off their vehicles while shopping, dining, or working.

Grid Connection Delays Add $87 Billion in Unnecessary Costs to EV Charging Buildout

A new analysis published March 20 by the Natural Resources Defense Council, drawing on research from Atlas Public Policy, quantifies for the first time the staggering cost of slow grid connections for EV charging stations. According to the NRDC's analysis, reducing energization timelines for all the charging capacity needed to support EV adoption through 2035 could unlock approximately $87 billion in cumulative net present value savings, with the bulk driven by heavy-duty vehicle charging infrastructure. That figure is more than ten times the total federal investment in EV charging under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, illustrating how permitting and grid connection bottlenecks are the single largest cost multiplier in the national charging buildout.

The problem is not technical capability or market demand. It is the energization process itself: the permitting, utility coordination, and physical grid connection work required before a newly installed charging station can begin operating. Fragmented utility processes, limited grid transparency, the absence of clear accountability for utilities to meet reasonable timelines, and slow local permitting create delays that can stretch from months to years, adding hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars per project. California has led the way in addressing this challenge by establishing the nation's first utility energization timeline targets, achieving a 49 percent improvement over the status quo for most public and workplace charging stations along with maximum timelines for larger grid upgrades and accountability reporting. Colorado and Illinois have followed with their own legislation requiring clear energization deadlines and proactive grid investments.

For Los Angeles property owners and developers, these findings reinforce the importance of early infrastructure planning. Engaging an experienced electrical contractor at the start of a project to conduct an electrical load study, assess existing service capacity, and coordinate with LADWP on utility requirements can significantly reduce the timeline and cost of getting charging stations energized and operational. Shaffer Construction routinely manages this process for commercial and residential EV charger installation projects across Los Angeles, helping clients avoid the delays and cost overruns that the NRDC analysis identifies as the industry's most significant infrastructure barrier. Properties that plan their electrical infrastructure proactively, rather than reactively, are positioned to capture charging demand months or even years ahead of competitors still waiting in the utility interconnection queue.

Lamborghini Scraps All-Electric Supercar, Blames Charging Infrastructure Gaps

In a development that underscores how charging infrastructure quality directly influences automaker product strategy, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann announced in late February that the company has shelved its planned all-electric Lanzador, a 1,341-horsepower Ultra GT originally slated for 2029 with an estimated $300,000 price tag. In an interview with Fortune published March 20, Winkelmann cited inadequate charging infrastructure as a contributing factor to what he described as close to zero demand for luxury EVs among the brand's customer base. Winkelmann quoted customer feedback directly: "We have a lot of customers who bought electric cars, and they told us that in terms of infrastructure, in terms of charging time, in terms of range, it is very disappointing."

The decision reflects a broader retreat among luxury automakers from fully electric platforms. Bentley has pushed back and then abandoned its all-electric target, while Porsche has scaled down its electrification initiatives. Supporting data cited in the Fortune report shows that the European Union has approximately 910,000 public charging stations against a need for 3.5 million to meet decarbonization targets, and that US drivers can successfully complete a full charge at non-residential chargers only 78 percent of the time, according to a Harvard Business School study. Lamborghini will pivot to plug-in hybrid models while continuing background development on a fully electric vehicle now pushed beyond 2030. As we discussed in our analysis of charging reliability reaching 86 percent and commercial ROI, the reliability gap is closing but remains a meaningful barrier to widespread consumer confidence.

For Los Angeles property owners and the broader California market, Winkelmann's comments serve as a reminder that charging infrastructure quality is not just an amenity consideration but a factor that shapes vehicle purchasing decisions and, by extension, the economic value of properties that offer reliable charging. Properties equipped with well-maintained, high-reliability charging stations built by qualified electrical contractors are contributing to the ecosystem that drives EV adoption forward, while poorly installed or unreliable stations reinforce the perception gaps that luxury automakers like Lamborghini cite as reasons to delay electrification.

Conclusion

The past week has made clear that the EV charging industry is transitioning from a build-it-and-they-will-come phase to an execution-and-reliability phase where the quality of infrastructure matters as much as the quantity. The 2026 EV Charging Summit identified demand charges, operational costs, and the reliability gap as the defining challenges for operators. Stellantis completed the final piece of universal Supercharger access, meaning every major automaker's EVs can now charge on the largest US fast-charging network. EVgo's 50 percent revenue growth and 1,200-stall deployment in 2025 demonstrate that private investment continues to accelerate regardless of policy uncertainty. The NRDC's $87 billion analysis of grid connection delays reveals the single largest cost driver in the national charging buildout and highlights California's leadership in establishing utility accountability timelines. And Lamborghini's decision to scrap its all-electric supercar because of infrastructure gaps illustrates how charging availability directly influences automaker strategy and consumer demand at every market segment.

Ready to position your Los Angeles property for the next phase of EV charging infrastructure growth? Shaffer Construction, Inc. provides expert design, permitting, and installation services for commercial and residential charging systems, electrical load studies to assess service capacity, and guidance on available state and federal incentive programs for eligible projects.

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