Introduction

The electric vehicle landscape experienced significant policy shifts this week as the Trump administration issued Executive Order 14154 titled Unleashing American Energy on January 20, 2025, directing federal agencies to pause disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. Despite federal policy uncertainty, industry progress continues with public charging reliability improving from 81 percent failed charging attempts in 2024 to 86 percent successful attempts in 2025 according to J.D. Power data, though a gap persists between reported 98 to 99 percent network uptime and actual first-time charge success rates. Donut Lab's production-ready solid-state battery with five-minute charging capability enters commercial deployment in Q1 2026 powering Verge Motorcycles, marking the first production vehicles featuring all-solid-state battery technology. BYD's megawatt charging system capable of 1,000-kilowatt speeds and five-minute full recharges was named Technology of the Year by InsideEVs. The NEVI program has built 384 charging ports with $885 million apportioned for fiscal year 2026, with nine states opening new funding rounds despite federal funding uncertainty. At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we help Los Angeles property owners navigate evolving policy landscapes while implementing charging infrastructure that serves growing EV populations through expert commercial EV charger installations and residential charging solutions. Here are this week's most significant developments.

Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Pausing Federal EV Infrastructure Funding

President Trump issued Executive Order 14154 titled Unleashing American Energy on January 20, 2025, directing federal agencies to immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including funds for electric vehicle charging stations made available through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program. It is not clear whether states are able to issue awards under NEVI or when NEVI disbursements might resume. The order also instructed federal agencies to withdraw aggressive federal tailpipe regulations established during the Biden administration. Source: The White House.

The Trump Administration subsequently unveiled a Freedom Means Affordable Cars proposal to reset the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's corporate average fuel economy standards. NHTSA is proposing to increase fuel economy standards by just 0.5 percent per year for passenger cars from model years 2023 through 2026, followed by 0.35 percent in 2027, and 0.25 percent from 2029 through 2031. This represents a dramatic reduction from the Biden administration's EPA finalized rules that would effectively mandate 26 percent EVs in 2027, 44 percent in 2030, and 56 percent of new vehicles sold in 2032 to be electric. Source: U.S. Department of Transportation.

The EPA also moved to repeal California's Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which requires EVs to comprise 68 percent of vehicles sold by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035. California and ten other states filed suit in federal court challenging Trump's resolutions, contending that principles of federalism and separation of powers prohibit the federal government from using the Congressional Review Act to negate state rules. Source: EV Infrastructure News.

For Los Angeles property owners, federal policy shifts create uncertainty about future public charging infrastructure buildout, but do not affect the fundamental economics of providing charging at private properties. As we discussed in our coverage of the federal charger installation tax credit deadline of June 30, 2026, property owners can still capture federal incentives for installations completed before this date regardless of broader policy changes affecting vehicle purchase incentives and public charging programs.

Public Charging Reliability Improves to 86 Percent Success Rate Though Gap Remains

Public EV charging reliability showed meaningful improvement in 2025, with 14 percent of all EV owners reporting that they visited a charger without successfully charging their vehicle, compared to 19 percent in 2024. This represents an 86 percent first-time charge success rate in 2025 compared to 81 percent in 2024, demonstrating tangible progress in addressing one of the primary frustrations EV drivers experience with public charging infrastructure. Source: EV Charging Stations.

However, a significant gap persists between reported network uptime and actual user experience. While charging networks report 98.7 to 99.9 percent uptime, only 71 percent of charging attempts actually succeed on the first try. This disconnect reveals that traditional uptime metrics measuring whether hardware is technically operational do not capture the full picture of whether drivers can successfully charge their vehicles. New charging stations average an 85 percent first-time charge success rate, but performance drops below 70 percent by year three as infrastructure ages without proper maintenance. Source: Clean Trucking.

Several factors drive the reliability improvements observed in 2025. Better execution at launch means newer stations, especially those funded through public programs like NEVI, are coming online with stricter uptime standards and improved software integration from day one. Proactive maintenance strategies employed by leading charging network operators have implemented smarter diagnostics and faster incident response, allowing them to resolve issues before they escalate into complete charger failures. The industry learning curve from the past two years of reliability challenges has created urgency for scalable solutions, driving cross-network improvements in hardware selection, contractor accountability, and reporting transparency. Source: Fleet Uptime.

For Los Angeles commercial property owners, these industry trends underscore the importance of selecting reliable charging equipment and establishing maintenance protocols from the outset. Shaffer Construction works with proven charging equipment manufacturers and can establish ongoing maintenance relationships to ensure charging infrastructure maintains high uptime and user satisfaction over its operational lifespan. As we noted in our analysis of DC fast-charging network expansion, public charging infrastructure continues growing rapidly, but private workplace and residential charging provides the most reliable daily charging access for EV drivers.

Donut Lab Solid-State Batteries Enter Production with Verge Motorcycles in Q1 2026

Donut Lab's production-ready solid-state battery featuring five-minute full recharge capability enters commercial deployment in Q1 2026 powering Verge Motorcycles, marking the first production vehicles to feature all-solid-state battery technology. The Donut Battery offers double Tesla's energy density at 400 watt-hours per kilogram, a design life of up to 100,000 cycles with minimal capacity fade, and operation in extreme temperatures. At negative 30 degrees Celsius, the battery retains over 99 percent capacity, while at temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius, it continues operating with no degradation or ignition risk. Source: Donut Lab.

The battery contains no flammable liquid electrolytes, eliminating the primary causes of battery fires. There is no thermal runaway chain reaction, no metallic dendrite formation, and no ignition risk even under extreme conditions. Verge Motorcycles equipped with Donut Battery can charge in less than 10 minutes, delivering up to 60 kilometers of combined range per minute of charging. The commercial deployment in motorcycles represents the first step toward broader automotive adoption, with major automakers closely monitoring the technology's real-world performance. Source: Electric Cars Report.

China's National Automotive Standardization Technical Committee recently released Solid-State Battery for Electric Vehicle Part 1 Terms and Classification, representing the first national standard for solid-state EV batteries now open for public discussion. This regulatory framework development indicates that multiple stakeholders expect commercial solid-state battery deployment to accelerate over the next several years. Japanese automakers including Toyota, Nissan, and Honda aim to introduce solid-state batteries around 2028, with mass production closer toward the end of the decade, while Chinese battery giants CATL and BYD target small-scale production around 2027. Source: Electrek.

As we covered in our discussion of ProLogium's solid-state battery technology at CES 2026, multiple companies are advancing solid-state battery development simultaneously. The five-minute charging capability enabled by solid-state technology could fundamentally transform charging infrastructure requirements once the technology reaches automotive scale, potentially reducing the need for high-power DC fast-charging infrastructure as even moderate-power charging systems could deliver complete charges in minutes rather than hours.

BYD Megawatt Charging Named Technology of the Year for Five-Minute Recharging

BYD's megawatt charging system capable of 1,000-kilowatt charging speeds and five-minute full recharges was named Technology of the Year by InsideEVs, recognizing the breakthrough advancement in charging convenience. The system can recharge an electric vehicle in about five minutes while reaching speeds of up to 1,000 kilowatts, dramatically reducing charging times compared to conventional DC fast-charging systems that typically deliver 50 to 350 kilowatts. The technology represents a significant leap forward in addressing range anxiety and making EV charging approach the convenience of gasoline refueling. Source: InsideEVs.

The recognition follows similar ultra-high-power charging announcements from other manufacturers. ChargePoint's 600-kilowatt DC fast charger announced at CES 2026 can charge electric vehicles in about ten minutes, while the Lucid Gravity Grand Touring is the fastest charging SUV MotorTrend has ever tested, delivering enough charge in just 15 minutes to cover 194 miles with an incredible 400-kilowatt peak power higher than any other EV currently on sale. These developments demonstrate that charging hardware is advancing rapidly to support dramatically faster charging speeds. Source: MotorTrend.

Infrastructure deployment is following this trend toward higher power levels. The share of 250-plus kilowatt chargers rose sharply from 25 percent to 38 percent in Q2 2025, indicating a clear industry shift toward higher-power charging infrastructure. In the European Union, approximately 20 percent of ultra-fast chargers already deliver 350 kilowatts or more. As of January 1, 2026, the United States had 67,916 public DC fast-charging ports, an increase of almost 17,000 or 33 percent since January 1, 2025. Source: Industry Analysts.

For Los Angeles property owners, these ultra-high-power charging systems remain primarily relevant for highway corridor and public charging applications where rapid charging is essential. Workplace, multifamily residential, and destination charging continues to rely primarily on Level 2 charging in the 6 to 19 kilowatt range, which provides complete charging during the multiple hours vehicles typically park at these locations. Shaffer Construction can assess your property's specific use case and recommend appropriate charging power levels based on how long vehicles will be parked and what charging speeds best serve your users.

NEVI Program Builds 384 Charging Ports with $885 Million for Fiscal Year 2026

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program has built at least 384 EV charging ports with $885 million apportioned for fiscal year 2026, demonstrating continued state-level progress despite federal funding uncertainty. Nine states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington have opened or recently opened their next round of funding. New York has committed $885 million to support make-ready programs, while Delaware offers rebates of up to $4,000 per port at multi-unit dwellings. Source: Energy Exchange.

All states and the District of Columbia have adopted fast-charging corridor plans through the bipartisan National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. The program focuses on filling gaps in DC fast charging coverage along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, with specific requirements for station spacing, power levels, number of ports, and uptime guarantees. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 apportions a total of $5 billion to states, D.C., and Puerto Rico over five years from fiscal year 2022 through 2026, with the federal share of eligible project costs at 80 percent. Source: ACT News.

Local jurisdictions are also advancing charging infrastructure projects. Ann Arbor is planning to build 50 additional charging stations over the next 18 to 24 months, including both Level 2 and fast chargers. Ithaca College added 30 new charging stations, including the first publicly available DC fast chargers located on a college campus in New York State. These projects demonstrate that despite federal policy uncertainty, state and local governments continue investing in charging infrastructure to support EV adoption. Source: WEMU.

For Los Angeles businesses interested in NEVI or other grant programs, Shaffer Construction can evaluate whether specific projects align with program requirements and can manage the technical specifications through comprehensive electrical load studies and compliant installation practices. However, the federal charger installation tax credit available through June 30, 2026, represents the most accessible incentive for most private property installations regardless of location or public access requirements.

What These Developments Mean for Los Angeles Property Owners

The Trump administration's Executive Order pausing federal EV infrastructure funding and reversing vehicle emission standards creates policy uncertainty at the federal level, but does not fundamentally alter the economics or value proposition of private charging infrastructure. The EV population in Los Angeles continues growing based on vehicle technology improvements, increasing model availability, and compelling total cost of ownership even without federal purchase incentives. Properties with charging capabilities remain better positioned to serve residents, employees, and customers who drive electric vehicles regardless of federal policy direction.

Charging reliability improvements from 81 percent to 86 percent success rates demonstrate that the industry is addressing user experience challenges, though the gap between reported uptime and actual success rates underscores the importance of proper equipment selection and ongoing maintenance. Donut Lab's solid-state batteries entering production and BYD's megawatt charging technology being recognized as Technology of the Year show that battery and charging technology continue advancing rapidly, with dramatically faster charging becoming commercially viable.

The NEVI program's 384 ports built and $885 million in fiscal year 2026 funding demonstrate that state-level programs continue advancing despite federal uncertainty. For Los Angeles property owners, the federal charger installation tax credit deadline of June 30, 2026, creates urgency to complete projects while this incentive remains available. Shaffer Construction can initiate projects immediately to ensure completion before the deadline while implementing charging infrastructure designed to serve growing EV populations for years to come.

Conclusion

The Trump administration issued Executive Order 14154 on January 20, 2025, pausing disbursement of federal EV infrastructure funds and directing agencies to withdraw aggressive tailpipe regulations, while the EPA moved to repeal California's Advanced Clean Cars II regulation. Public charging reliability improved to an 86 percent first-time charge success rate in 2025 compared to 81 percent in 2024, though a gap persists between reported 98 to 99 percent network uptime and actual user success rates. Donut Lab's production-ready solid-state battery with five-minute charging capability enters commercial deployment in Q1 2026 powering Verge Motorcycles as the first production vehicles featuring all-solid-state battery technology. BYD's megawatt charging system capable of 1,000-kilowatt speeds and five-minute full recharges was named Technology of the Year by InsideEVs. The NEVI program has built 384 charging ports with $885 million apportioned for fiscal year 2026, with nine states opening new funding rounds despite federal policy uncertainty. For Los Angeles property owners, the June 30, 2026, federal charger installation tax credit deadline requires immediate action to capture available incentives regardless of broader policy changes.

Ready to explore EV charging options for your Los Angeles property? Contact Shaffer Construction, Inc. for a complimentary site assessment and expert guidance on selecting the right charging solution for your needs before the June 30, 2026, federal tax credit deadline.

Shaffer Construction, Inc.
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