Why Do We Share Our Data?

🤷‍♂️ What do you do when you see data analysis that you know is wrong because it’s based on a misunderstanding of the underlying data premise?

At Paren, we see this problem with EV charging infrastructure data on a regular basis and found two ways to help:

📊 Paren shares with the DOE

‍The first is to work directly with the Department of Energy (DOE). They’re in charge of the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) which includes U.S. and Canadian data on all non-gas based fuels, including EV charging. It’s a fantastic resource for understanding the growth of the industry, but it is not always complete.

Recently, we had an opportunity to review our two databases and helped the AFDC team find some gaps in their data. We’re thrilled to have played a part in seeing these gaps filled in the latest AFDC EV Charging dataset, however, some data analysts don’t look deep enough to understand that the AFDC database sometimes measures a station’s Open Date based on when it enters their database, not when the station was actually energized. Usually, these two activities are close to the same date, but, in recent cases, the AFDC catching up on some missing data has led to incorrect conclusions. For Q3, several charging networks show as adding almost 100 “new” stations, about 15% of the quarterly total. In fact, these stations were 4 to 12 months old and significantly skewed the numbers and underlying analysis.

So, what data and reports can the industry rely on? This is where we found our second way to help.

📈 Paren’s Quarterly Reports set the standard

‍Earlier this year we started the Paren U.S. EV Charging quarterly reports. This is our way of giving back to the industry and helping propel it forward with accurate data and insights that no one else was providing. Our Q3 2025 EV Charging Infrastructure analysis digs deeper to find the correct OpenDate and slot these and all new charging stations into their correct timeframe. This leads to more accurate trend analysis. Our Q3 2025 report will be released publicly on Monday October 20 and available at paren.app/reports.

Tip of the iceberg

‍Our EV charging infrastructure data is just one component of our ever-growing dataset. By bringing together Infrastructure, Reliability, Usage, Pricing, and Amenities across the charging world, we’re building something that is truly unique and loved by our customers.