Trump Or No Trump, EV Charging Is Getting Easier Than Ever

The dictator-adjacent Commander-in-Chief who occupies the White House is determined to take down the entire US auto industry, electric vehicles and all. Still, Presidents come and go. This one will be gone in less than four years. Meanwhile, EV charging stakeholders continue to lay the groundwork for the electrified future of personal mobility devices in the US.

Tariffs Or Not, Here Comes Easier EV Charging

Trump does not have a rational explanation for the latest round of tariffs, but he doesn’t need one. After all, this is the guy who once joked about not losing any voters, even if he shot somebody in the middle of Fifth Avenue.

Meanwhile, auto industry stakeholders have been dousing out one flaming head of hair after another on account of Trump’s tariffs, particularly in regards to Canada, and they are running out of heads.

All this mishegas over tariffs does not seem to have disturbed the Texas-based EV charging firm XCharge North America, though. Earlier today the company announced that its new “Virtual Point of Sale” payment system will come pre-installed with its XCharge EV charging system, aimed at individual business owners and EV fleets.

“The product, available to existing customers via a secure and remote update (no plug-in needed), will manage payments through industry-trusted platform Stripe for a simple and convenient charging experience,” XCharge NA explains.

“In lockstep with consumers’ evolving payment preferences, VPOS, which does not require an app, offers payment via Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and standard card processing to promote convenience and flexibility,” they add, drawing attention to the QR code for additional convenience and security.

Here’s the list of features from XCharge NA:

• On-screen QR Code that dynamically updates to prevent phishing and fraud
• Optional pin code to secure the charging session to prevent interruptions
• Real-time charging metrics, full data logging, and a register of transactions
• Remote monitoring and diagnostics, enabling full issue resolution with XCharge hardware without the need for physical intervention
• Vertical integration with XCharge hardware and aftersales teams to optimize functionality and support

More EV Charging For Multifamily Buildings, Too

Another new EV charging announcement popped up on Monday, when the Canadian startup SWTCH Energy launched its new SWTCH Cortex EV charging system for multi-family residences and commercial properties into the North American market. The company has offices in Boston and New York as well as Toronto.

SWTCH’s focus on the multi-family market is part of a larger trend, as EV charging stakeholders develop innovative systems for introducing their wares to renters and other multi-family occupants, who represent a huge segment of the car-buying public.

“The launch of SWTCH Cortex comes at a crucial time for multifamily and commercial properties. Demand for electric vehicles is growing and expected to hit 14% in US sales in 2025, but significant barriers, like a lack of EV-ready parking and high retrofitting costs, continue to hinder widespread adoption,” the company explains.

Among other features, the Cortex solution is an energy management system that enables property managers to keep adding more EV charging stations without the need for costly electrical upgrades. “By accessing spare capacity on all connected electrical panels and processing energy requests with zero-latency onsite computing, SWTCH Cortex unlocks the full potential of your existing infrastructure,” the company explains.

With an eye on the broader building electrification trend, the Cortex system also enables property managers to proceed with both HVAC electrification plans and EV charging, too. “By using predictive modelling and real-time monitoring, EV chargers will reduce their energy consumption when climate systems are on,” SWTCH explains.

Toyota Doubles Down On EV Charging

Yet another sign of vigorous EV charging growth in the US comes courtesy of Toyota, which has celebrated the first DC fast charging stations constructed under its Empact EV charging initiative.

The two stations, in Baldwin Park and Sacramento, California, are co-branded with EVgo, which serves as owner and operator. Each features 350kW fast chargers for up to eight vehicles at a time. The locations were selected partly due to their proximity to grocery stores, shopping, and other activities.

“Availability of charging is essential as consumers consider buying or leasing an EV. As automakers offer more electric vehicle choices, EVgo will continue deploying fast chargers for current and prospective EV drivers,” explained Executive Vice President of Growth at EVgo Scott Levitan in a press statement that demonstrates how EV charging stakeholders are continuing to keep their momentum going, despite the setback that occurred when Trump summarily suspended the $5 billion federally funded NEVI program.

The Empact initiative somehow slipped under the CleanTechnica radar when Toyota announced it in 2023, so it’s time to play catchup.

“The strategy centers on three fundamental areas: access to charging, providing affordable mobility solutions, and reducing carbon emissions,” Toyota explains, noting that the focus is on improving access to EV charging stations in underserved communities.

“Together with EVgo, we are supporting broader access to charging infrastructure for all battery EV drivers, including those driving Toyota and Lexus BEVs,” emphasized James George, Toyota North America’s GM for EV Charging Solutions.

About Those EV Sales…

With Trump in charge of US energy policy, some automotive observers have been cautious, while others have been cautiously optimistic, about the potential for increasing the pace of EV sales in the US. Making public EV charging easier for all drivers is one way to help keep the momentum going, as is making home EV charging stations available to drivers in multi-family buildings. After all, the vast majority of EV drivers prefer to recharge at home.

One factor that could drag overall EV sales down is Tesla, where CEO Elon Musk has been conducting a master class on the role of brand reputation in the automotive market as sales continue to fall off a cliff.

The Commander-in-Chief tried to put things right last night, when he pledge to buy a Tesla EV. Good luck with that. Associated Press investigative reporter Bernard Condon took a closer look at the fix Tesla is in, pledge or no pledge, and concluded that “Donald Trump’s efforts to help Tesla could end up hurting it.”

“Numerous auto industry analysts have attributed Tesla’s recent sagging stock — and auto sales — to Musk’s support of Trump and other far right candidates around the world,” Condon noted, drawing attention to the knock-on effects of the stock drop on the company’s prospects for future growth.

Condon also cited an analysis by UBS Global Research, anticipating that Tesla deliveries globally will continue to fall in Q4 and the rest of the year as well.

Ouch! One way or another, the US will recover from Trump’s turn in the Oval Office. Tesla, maybe not so much.

Photo: EV charging in the US is getting easier and more accessible, despite Trump’s suspension of the federal NEVI public fast charging initiative (courtesy of Xcharge North America via businesswire.com).