EV Infrastructure Investment Data
Q1 2026 SNAPSHOT
15.6%
US avg utilization, Q1 2026 — for investment modeling
$0.53
US avg price/kWh — stable YoY
3,387
New US DCFC ports added in Q1 2026
Jan 2024
Historical data available from
What investors use Paren for
The data behind the investment thesis
The EV fast-charging market added 17,428 US ports across 2025 and continues expanding in 2026. But top-line market size only tells part of the story. Utilization, reliability, and pricing variation by market archetype determines which assets outperform.
Utilization modeling
Market-level and station-level utilization data for DCF and revenue modeling. US average 15.6% in Q1 2026; leading metros run 25–37%. Includes seasonal patterns and YoY trends.
Site selection analytics
Utilization ranges from 2–3% in underdeveloped regions to 35%+ in leading urban corridors. Paren data identifies where supply and demand are in balance vs. where significant gaps persist.
Operator benchmarking
Compare CPO performance by reliability, deployment pace, and pricing strategy. Identify which operators are gaining or losing share and how execution quality correlates with utilization.
Pricing intelligence
US fast-charging prices held stable at $0.53/kWh in Q1 2026 despite input cost pressures — a signal of pricing power and market maturity. Regional and operator-level pricing available.
Cross-border coverage
Paren covers 95%+ of US DCFC infrastructure and 90%+ of Canadian DCFC. Consistent methodology across both markets enables portfolio-level analysis of North American assets.
Quarterly updates + real-time API
Quarterly reports with backward-comparable methodology. Real-time API for live portfolio monitoring. Flat file exports for BI tools and financial models.
MARKET METRICS · Q1 2026
Key numbers for investment modeling
Data from Paren's Q1 2026 US and Canada State of the Industry reports. Full historical dataset available from January 2024.
15.6%
US avg utilization, Q1 2026
Range: 2.5% (AK) to 37.2% (DC)
11.3%
Canada avg utilization, Q1 2026
Range: 2.0% (Yukon) to 13.9% (Ontario)
$0.53
US avg price/kWh
Unchanged from Q4 2025. Range: $0.45–$0.87
$0.48
Canada avg price/kWh (CAD)
Unchanged from Q4 2025. Range: $0.40–$0.70
93.5
US avg reliability score
Up from 93.4 in Q4 2025
91.1
Canada avg reliability score
Down from 93.2 in Q4 2025
4.6
Avg ports/station, non-Tesla US
Up from 3.5 in Q1 2025
67%
New US ports at 250+ kW
Standard for new deployments
Geographic analysis
Utilization by market archetype — US
Utilization ranges from low single digits in underdeveloped regions to 25–37% in leading metro corridors. The same four archetypes that drive reliability also determine utilization performance — critical for market-entry timing and portfolio construction.
Healthy — CA, WA, NJ (22–26% utilization)
High utilization with strong, improving reliability. Best risk-adjusted return profile for operational assets. California leads at 22.2%.
Stressed — FL, NY, DC (25–37% utilization)
Utilization outpacing reliability. Highest utilization (DC at 37.2%) but operational complexity rising. Densification investment opportunity.
Pre-demand — TX, CO, MN (11–16% utilization)
Strong reliability, below-average utilization. Infrastructure ahead of demand. Improving economics as EV adoption catches up.
Lagging — rural markets (2–8% utilization)
Low utilization and weaker reliability. Driven by execution gaps, not demand ceilings. Higher-risk profile for new investment.
| Metro / Region | Utilization Q1 2026 | Archetype | Investment signal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 37.2% | Stressed | Densification opportunity | |
| Hawaii | 25.1% | Stressed | High pricing ($0.87/kWh) | |
| New Jersey | 21.4% | Healthy | Strong operational model | |
| California | 22.2% | Healthy | Most mature market | |
| Florida | 18.9% | Stressed | Price increase risk | |
| New York | 19.7% | Stressed | High demand, complex ops | |
| Washington | 15.6% | Healthy | Consistent performer | |
| Texas | 13.6% | Pre-demand | Growing corridor opportunity | |
| Colorado | 14.2% | Pre-demand | Improving economics | |
| US Average | 15.6 |
Source: Paren US DCFC Dataset, Q1 2026.
Canadian MARKET · Q1 2026
Canada: earlier in the cycle, with strong leading-market fundamentals
Canada's average utilization of 11.3% is below the US, but Ontario (13.9%) and British Columbia (13.2%) are approaching US "healthy" market levels. Canadian government investment announcements add policy tailwind. Unlike the US, pricing is fragmented by province — a structurally important variable for asset-level modeling.
| Metro area | Utilization Q1 2026 | Archetype | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 26.7% | Stressed | ||
| Toronto | 23.1% | Healthy (approaching stressed) | ||
| Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | 18.3% | Healthy | ||
| Montreal | 16.7% | Healthy | ||
| Hamilton | 15.5% | Healthy | ||
| Ottawa-Gatineau | 13.7% | Healthy | ||
| Calgary | 11.8% | Pre-demand | ||
| Edmonton | 7.6% | Pre-demand | ||
| Canada Average | 11.3% |
Source: Paren Canada DCFC Dataset, Q1 2026.
Data access
How to access Paren investment data
Flat files
Rich historical datasets for import into Excel, Python, or BI tools. Quarterly snapshots with backward-comparable methodology. Ideal for one-time diligence projects.
API
Real-time access to granular station-level data. Reliability scores, utilization, pricing, and network share updated continuously. Ideal for live portfolio monitoring and system integration.
Self-serve portal
Query specific geographies, networks, or time periods without engineering resources. Exportable tables and charts. Ideal for smaller diligence scopes and ad hoc market research.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Investment data — common questions
What is the average utilization rate for EV fast chargers in the US?
The US average was 15.6% in Q1 2026, down slightly from 16.5% in Q4 2025 due to seasonal patterns. Utilization has held in a tight 15–16.5% range over the past year despite rapid capacity expansion — indicating that demand is absorbing new supply. However, the national average masks a wide range: leading metros run 25–37%, while underdeveloped regions can be as low as 2–3%.
Is EV charging infrastructure overbuilt?
Nationally, no. The Q1 2026 data shows utilization holding steady despite adding 3,387 new US ports in the quarter. Sessions per port rebounded in March after a weather-induced February dip, pointing to continued underlying demand. However, localized overcapacity exists in specific markets — particularly pre-demand-buildout states — making site-level analysis essential.
How stable are EV charging prices as an investment underwriting input?
Very stable at the national level. US prices held at $0.53/kWh in Q1 2026 — unchanged from Q4 2025 — despite continued network expansion and rising energy costs. The main exception is markets where utility incentives are removed (e.g., Florida saw a 14% price increase in Q1 2026 when Florida Power & Light lost incentive funding). Regional structural factors, not demand fluctuations, drive pricing variation.
Does Paren cover both US and Canadian DCFC markets?
Yes. Paren monitors 95%+ of US DCFC infrastructure (73,394 ports as of Q1 2026) and 90%+ of Canadian DCFC infrastructure (9,472 ports). Both markets use consistent methodology, enabling cross-border portfolio analysis. Separate quarterly reports are published for each market.
Talk to our investment data team
Custom data pulls, diligence support, and ongoing portfolio monitoring. Historical data from January 2024, real-time via API.
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