Bridging The Reality Gap: Quantifying the Impact of Charging Station Infrastructure on U.S. EV Adoption and Market Stability

Abstract

This study analyzes the essential correlation between the deployment of charging infrastructure and the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States during 2024-2025, a timeframe characterized by unparalleled market volatility. By examining more than 204,000 public charging stations and 1.56 million EV sales in 2024, we measure the link between infrastructure and adoption and how it affects market stability. We found that EV adoption grew 114% in the same time that charging infrastructure grew 25% per year, which caused big supply-demand imbalances. The end of federal tax credits in September 2025 caused sales to drop by 46% in the fourth quarter of 2025. This showed how fragile growth based on policy can be. We show that the best EV-to-charger ratios (4 to 10 EVs per port) are linked to higher adoption rates in different regions. However, gaps in infrastructure in rural areas still make it hard for everyone to get to the chargers. This research offers essential insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders managing the shift from rapid growth to market development.