Washington Faces Challenges in Expanding EV Charging Infrastructure

State planners struggle to meet the growing demand for electric vehicle charging ports despite cap-and-trade funding.

Washington voters recently rejected Initiative 2117, which would have repealed the state's cap-and-trade program that funds EV infrastructure.
While the state is on track with L2 chargers, it lags significantly behind in providing the necessary DC Fast Chargers.
Experts estimate Washington will need between 40,000 and 150,000 fast-charging ports to support 8 million vehicles, costing up to $30 billion.
Public charging as a standalone business is not currently attractive, necessitating subsidies and policy incentives to encourage investment.
Consistent long-term funding is crucial to avoid boom and bust cycles that deter companies from investing in charging infrastructure.