In 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T and sparked a transportation revolution in America. People began purchasing automobiles, and by the 1930s, more than 100,000 gas stations had sprung up across the country to fuel those vehicles.
Now, another revolution is sweeping the country. About 7% of Americans now own an electric vehicle (up from 4% in 2023) and the Cox Automotive Forecast anticipates that EVs will account for 10% of all car sales in 2025. Some estimates say that number will rise to 50% by 2030.
So how long will it take for EV charging stations to sweep the nation just like gas stations did nearly 100 years ago?
UWM alum Ethan Hintz thinks about that question a lot.
“Generations younger than myself, they’re not going to live in a world where gas powered vehicles are mainstream,” he said. “The industry is quickly shifting toward electric and autonomous, and I see myself as aiding in that movement.”
Hintz works on electric vehicle charging policy and strategy for Electrify America. The company, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group of America, is working to expand EV charging infrastructure across the United States and Canada so that drivers can “fill up” their EV as easily as drivers of combustion vehicles refuel their cars at gas stations.
But where should those charging hubs be located? How many of them should there be? What utilities are necessary to support them? These are questions that Hintz has to think about – so it’s a good thing he likes maps.
Getting started
Before he was an EV charging policy expert, Hintz was a geography major at UW-Milwaukee who also earned certificates in urban planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A self-proclaimed map nerd, he chose the university for its cartography programs.
GIS refers to software that allows users to attach data points to interactive maps. Many municipalities use GIS to track maintenance, create zoning maps, or prevent crime, for example.
“We use GIS heavily at Electrify America to help perform analysis on where to place chargers, where chargers are going to be the most economical, and where chargers are projected to have the highest utilization. All of that is informed by mapping tools,” Hintz said. “It was definitely in UWM’s specialized classes in GIS where I was able to master the skill set within GIS softwares to produce meaningful map products.”
At UWM, Hintz used GIS to foster his love for sustainability. He enjoyed his classes, but his most valuable learning experience was at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, where he completed a capstone project to round out his GIS certificate by mapping invasive plant species. Though he found work in the utilities industry after he graduated in 2014, Hintz always knew he wanted to make the world a greener place. So, a few years later, he returned to school to earn a master’s in civil/environmental engineering, which led to his job at Electrify America.
Leading the charge
Hintz’s job is to help his company build charging sites as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. He does that by working with funding programs run by both state agencies and utility companies that may have rebates or grant monies dedicated to expanding EV infrastructure.
There’s a lot to keep in mind when you’re thinking about EV chargers, starting with the chargers themselves.
“The quickest amount of time at this point, with the current technology, is about 20 minutes (to an 80% battery charge). As charging and vehicle battery technology improve in parallel, the amount of time spent at a fast-charging station is getting shorter and shorter, which makes the switch from a gasoline-powered vehicle to an electric vehicle maybe a little more attractive for consumers who are on the fence,” said Hintz.
But compared to the three to four minutes it takes to gas up a traditional car, even a fast charger can seem slow.
The next thing to consider is the amenities around the chargers. Hintz said that charging hubs are often slated for areas with things to do nearby, like coffee shops, restaurants, shopping, and public restrooms. That way, EV drivers have something to keep them occupied or a way to be productive while they wait for their battery to fill up.
And of course, charging hubs have to be placed in areas where people need them.
“(That’s) along busy highway corridors and also within communities near high-traffic areas,” Hintz said. “What makes for a good charging site is high visibility, exposure, convenience, and reliability.”
California leads the way in electric vehicle adoption. Hintz notes that one in every four new vehicle registrations in the state are for EVs. Even so, he wants to build charging hubs in every state. If people see that the infrastructure is available, it might encourage them to switch to an EV.
“EV charging has come a long way from just being hidden in the back of a large parking lot,” he said. “(They’re now in) highly visible, desirable locations where drivers can feel more comfortable charging. I think the industry is heading in a really good direction.”
It won’t be quite like the Model T and the subsequent boom in gas stations – for one thing, EV owners can often charge their vehicles at home, which means public charging isn’t always needed. Despite this, demand for public charging infrastructure continues to increase significantly as the rate of EV adoption grows across the country. Hintz and Electrify America are excited to build the infrastructure that will meet current and future demands and also contribute to a greener environment.
Hintz will bring his insights to his alma mater next year; he’s been invited to sit on a career panel to inspire current students to think about the next steps for their future.
By Sarah Vickery, College of Letters & Science