2026 State of EV Charging Network Operators Report

Challenges, insights, and projections

The EV charging industry is entering a new phase, defined not by rapid expansion but by a focus on reliability, efficiency, and profitability. Drawing on insights from 300 industry professionals, this report examines the key challenges, priorities, and emerging trends shaping EV charging networks in 2026, from AI adoption to energy management and the evolving demands of a maturing global market.

Top Challenges Faced by EV Charging Networks in 2026

Site energy constraints

0 %

Maintaining high charger utilization

0 %

In 2025, site energy constraints were the top challenge.

What keeps network operators up at night in 2026?

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Importance of AI and barriers to usage

67%

of operators view AI as very important or critical to their scaling efforts

But there are barriers to using or increasing AI usage today

Maintaining high charger utilization

0 %

Integration complexity with existing systems/ vendors

0 %

Cost or unclear ROI

0 %

Download the full report to see exactly how network operators are using AI today, and what’s stopping them from using it more.

Investment Priorities for a Better EV Charging Experience in 2026

The top planned investment areas for improving the EV charging experience in 2026 center on reliability, ease of access, and payment flexibility. The leading priority is 24/7 network availability (47%), with seamless authentication taking a close second place (43%). Could 2026 be the year of Plug & Charge?

Where else are network operators planning to invest in 2026?

Methodology & Demographics

Metodología

To gain insight into the current state of the EV charging network operators, we commissioned a survey of 300 EV charging professionals to shed light on their most pressing challenges and priorities.

Participants included senior decision-makers from Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and Electric vehicle Service Providers (EVSPs) in the areas of IT, Operations, Product, Business/ Integrations, Research/ Innovation, EV charging, Strategy, eMobility, digital products and roaming. All respondents were drawn from key markets in North America and Europe.

Datos demográficos

Industry

Active connectors

Región

Job seniority

EV business

EV subscribers

Organization roles

Plataforma de gestión energética y recarga de Driivz

70+

Networks

2200+

Charger types

5.8M+

drivers

3M+

Available ports

50M+

Transactions processed

35 countries

en todo el mundo