EV charging infrastructure faces reliability and maintenance challenges

Research indicates significant variations in the reliability and monitoring of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. In the United Kingdom, a Freedom of Information investigation involving 17 English county councils revealed inconsistent maintenance standards. While Northumberland County Council reported 97% uptime through hourly digital monitoring, other regions faced higher downtime. For instance, Hampshire County Council reported nearly a quarter of its network was unavailable, and Leicestershire County Council noted several sockets were permanently removed from service.

Globally, charger reliability has emerged as a primary technical constraint for the industry. A report from June 2026 noted that 59% of operators identify reliability and stability as their top challenge. In the United States, regulatory standards are tightening; the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program and California regulations both mandate high annual uptime targets, such as 97%. However, data from ChargerHelp suggests a gap between reported availability and actual success, with approximately 29% of charging attempts in the U.S. failing despite chargers appearing operational.