Introduction

The weekend edition of our EV charging industry roundup brings a set of developments that together reveal how the market for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure is maturing through multiple channels simultaneously. Fresh market data shows that used EV sales surged 12 percent year over year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching near-record levels even as new EV sales declined, with used EV prices now within striking distance of equivalent gasoline vehicles and removing the affordability barrier that had long kept mainstream buyers on the sidelines. Ford has extended and expanded its Power Promise program through July, offering a free Level 2 home charger and professional installation with every new electric vehicle purchase. North American utilities are deploying sophisticated managed charging programs to harness the 7.2 million EVs on American roads as flexible grid assets that can defer billions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades. The national Level 2 public charging network has reached 175,675 ports, and the Denza Z9 GT has demonstrated 500-mile range with five-minute fast charging capability that previews the next generation of EV performance. For Los Angeles property owners and homeowners considering EV charging installations, these developments confirm that the EV customer base is broadening rapidly and that home charging infrastructure and commercial installations alike need to be designed for a market that is growing from every direction. Shaffer Construction, Inc. provides expert EV charger installation across Los Angeles for both residential and commercial properties.

Used EV Sales Surge 12 Percent to Near-Record Levels as Prices Approach Gas Car Parity

The used electric vehicle market is experiencing a remarkable surge that is reshaping how millions of Americans are entering EV ownership. According to Electrek's analysis of Cox Automotive data, approximately 93,500 used EVs were sold at retail during the first quarter of 2026, a 12 percent increase over the same period last year and a 17 percent jump from the fourth quarter of 2025. Cox estimates that total used EV retail transactions exceeded 100,000 in Q1, making it the second-strongest quarter on record for used electric vehicle sales. The surge is particularly significant because it comes against a backdrop of declining new EV sales, which fell 28 percent year over year to 212,600 units as the expiration of certain federal tax credits and shifting incentive structures dampened new vehicle demand.

The pricing dynamics driving the used EV boom are striking. As InsideEVs reported, the average used EV transaction price has dropped to approximately 34,821 dollars, putting it within just 1,300 dollars of the average used gasoline vehicle at 33,487 dollars. That near-parity removes the single biggest objection most consumers have about going electric. Looking ahead, the pipeline of used EVs is about to expand dramatically as lease returns accelerate, with Experian projecting that EVs will make up 15 percent of all off-lease vehicles by the end of 2026, up from 7.7 percent in Q1. For the Los Angeles market, where EV adoption has consistently outpaced national averages, this means a growing population of first-time EV owners who need home charging infrastructure. Many of these buyers are purchasing vehicles that came with home charger incentives from the original lease but are now entering the secondary market without those benefits, creating strong demand for aftermarket Level 2 charger installation.

Ford Extends Power Promise Program With Free Home Charger and Installation Through July

Ford Motor Company has extended its Power Promise program through July 6, 2026, continuing to offer buyers and lessees of new electric vehicles a complimentary Level 2 home charger and professional installation at no additional cost. As detailed by Electrek, the program covers the 2025 F-150 Lightning and 2025 or 2026 Mustang Mach-E purchased or leased from participating Ford dealers between April 1 and July 6, 2026. The package includes a free Level 2 home charging station plus complimentary standard installation through Qmerit, or buyers who already have home charging can opt for 2,000 dollars in bonus cash instead. Ford is also offering discounts of up to 9,000 dollars on its electric models during April, making the total value proposition for new Ford EV buyers among the most aggressive in the industry.

The Power Promise program highlights a broader trend in which automakers are recognizing that the home charging experience is a critical factor in EV customer satisfaction and retention. Ford's decision to bundle professional installation through Qmerit acknowledges that most homeowners need electrical work to support Level 2 charging, whether that involves a dedicated 240-volt circuit, a panel upgrade, or a complete service upgrade to handle the additional load. In Los Angeles, where many homes were built decades before EVs existed and have older electrical panels operating near capacity, the installation process often requires more than standard work. Shaffer Construction provides comprehensive residential EV charger installation services including panel upgrades, dedicated circuit installation, and electrical load assessments that ensure the home's electrical system can safely support Level 2 charging alongside existing household demand.

Utilities Deploy Managed Charging to Harness 7.2 Million EVs as Flexible Grid Assets

With 7.2 million electric vehicles now on American roads, North American utilities are transitioning from basic EV load-shifting programs to sophisticated managed charging orchestration that treats each connected vehicle as a flexible grid asset. According to a comprehensive Utility Dive analysis published this week, the industry is moving beyond passive time-of-use rate structures toward active managed charging programs that can dynamically adjust charging loads in real time based on grid conditions, renewable energy availability, and local transformer capacity. The shift is driven by the recognition that passive programs, which simply offer cheaper rates during off-peak hours, have created unintended secondary demand peaks in markets like California, where millions of EVs begin charging simultaneously when rates drop after midnight.

The grid flexibility implications are significant for commercial and multifamily property owners in Los Angeles. Active managed charging can double the number of EVs that existing electrical infrastructure can support before upgrades are needed, with industry research showing that a primary feeder requiring an upgrade at 14 percent EV penetration under passive time-of-use rates can defer that upgrade until 31 percent penetration with active management. For multifamily and commercial properties installing multiple Level 2 chargers, this means that load management systems are no longer optional features but essential components that determine how many charging stations can be supported on existing electrical service without costly upgrades. As we discussed in our coverage of the national charging network reaching 71,000 fast-charging stalls, the infrastructure challenge is increasingly about smart power management rather than raw electrical capacity.

National Level 2 Public Charging Network Reaches 175,675 Ports

While the DC fast-charging buildout captures most industry headlines, the quieter but equally critical expansion of the public Level 2 charging network continues to accelerate. According to the latest network data from EV Charging Stations, the United States now has 175,675 public AC Level 2 charging ports deployed across all networks and connector standards as of April 2026. Level 2 chargers, which typically deliver between 7 and 19 kilowatts and can add 25 to 75 miles of range per hour, serve a fundamentally different use case than DC fast chargers. They are the workhorses of destination charging at workplaces, hotels, shopping centers, multifamily properties, and municipal parking facilities where vehicles sit for extended periods and drivers value convenient, reliable charging over raw speed.

For Los Angeles commercial property owners, the Level 2 network data reinforces that destination charging remains the highest-volume, most cost-effective charging segment for most property types. A well-designed Level 2 installation with load management can serve dozens of vehicles per day from a modest electrical service, delivering meaningful value to tenants and customers at a fraction of the cost of DC fast charging hardware. Building on the demand trends we highlighted in our analysis of gas prices driving record EV adoption, the growing base of EV drivers in Los Angeles increasingly expects Level 2 charging at every destination where they spend more than an hour, and properties that meet this expectation gain a measurable competitive advantage in tenant attraction and customer loyalty.

Denza Z9 GT Previews Next-Generation EV Performance With 500-Mile Range and Five-Minute Fast Charging

The Denza Z9 GT, a premium electric grand tourer from BYD's luxury sub-brand, is heading to European markets with specifications that preview where the entire EV industry is heading: a WLTP-rated range of nearly 500 miles and the ability to add significant range in just five minutes of fast charging. The vehicle's battery and charging architecture demonstrate the rapid progress being made in cell chemistry, thermal management, and ultra-high-power charging compatibility that will define the next generation of electric vehicles across all price segments. While the Z9 GT targets the premium European market, the underlying technology innovations in battery energy density and charging speed are cascading down to mainstream models from BYD and competitors, meaning that the vehicles arriving at Los Angeles charging stations over the next two to three years will demand meaningfully more from charging infrastructure than today's fleet.

For property owners planning EV charging installations, the trajectory toward longer-range vehicles with higher power acceptance rates has direct implications for infrastructure design. As we noted in our coverage of next-generation charging hardware including Tesla's V4 500-kilowatt Supercharger, the electrical service and switchgear installed today needs to accommodate the charging speeds that will be standard within just a few years. Undersizing electrical infrastructure to save on initial project cost is a false economy when the result is expensive retrofits within the first few years of operation. Shaffer Construction designs every commercial and residential EV charging installation in Los Angeles with future capacity in mind, ensuring that the electrical backbone can support higher-power hardware as the industry continues its rapid evolution.

Conclusion

This week's developments collectively illustrate an EV market that is broadening and deepening through every channel. The surge in used EV sales to near-record levels confirms that electric vehicle ownership is moving decisively beyond the early adopter segment and into the mainstream, with price parity between used EVs and gas cars removing the last major barrier for millions of potential buyers. Ford's aggressive Power Promise incentives demonstrate that automakers are willing to invest heavily in the home charging experience to drive sales. The utility industry's shift toward active managed charging shows that the grid is adapting to treat EVs as assets rather than liabilities. The Level 2 public network crossing 175,000 ports confirms that destination charging is scaling to meet workplace and retail demand. And next-generation vehicle technology like the Denza Z9 GT's 500-mile range and five-minute charging capability signals that infrastructure designed today will need to handle significantly more capable vehicles within just a few years. For Los Angeles property owners, the convergence of growing demand, favorable incentives, and advancing technology makes this an ideal time to invest in EV charging infrastructure that will deliver value for years to come.

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
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Website: www.shaffercon.com