Tesla still leads US fast-charger growth – but it’s raised its prices

This is mostly about public EV charging infrastructure, not home energy upgrades, but it's worth noting if you own or are considering an electric vehicle. The US now has over 80,000 public fast-charging ports, and new stations are getting bigger, with more plugs per site and higher power ratings. That means less waiting for an open charger, especially in big cities. Reliability also improved, with most states scoring high marks for charger uptime and successful sessions.

The cost picture is more mixed. Tesla's Supercharger network, still the biggest source of new chargers, raised its prices. Non-member drivers now pay about 57 cents per kilowatt-hour, up 15% from a year ago, while Tesla members pay around 40 cents, up 9%. Other charging networks have kept prices steady near 53 cents per kilowatt-hour for over a year. If you charge at times with higher demand, you'll likely pay more too, since peak-hour rates run roughly 20 cents higher per kilowatt-hour than off-peak rates at stations with that kind of pricing.

None of this affects home charging equipment or rebates directly, but it matters if you're weighing whether to rely on public fast chargers versus charging an EV at home, where electricity costs are typically lower and more predictable. It's also a reminder that charging costs vary by network and time of day, something to factor in if public charging is part of your routine.