SPATCO and ChargerHelp have announced a partnership aimed at improving the reliability of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, a time when uptime is under increasing scrutiny. The collaboration comes as state and federal policies begin holding network operators accountable for charger performance, and as reports continue to highlight persistent service issues.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, one in five EV drivers attempting to use a public charging station could not complete a session due to station outages, equipment malfunction, or payment failures, according to J.D. Power.
Simultaneously, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, a $5 billion federal funding initiative, has been paused, creating uncertainty across the public charging landscape.
California’s Assembly Bill 1423 adds further pressure by proposing financial penalties for chargers that fail to meet uptime standards, with fines of up to $2,500 per violation.
In response to these developments, ChargerHelp and SPATCO are combining workforce resources and technology to support scalable, field-ready service operations.
ChargerHelp’s EMPWR Technician App is a software platform designed to standardize charger troubleshooting and reduce time to resolution. SPATCO, operating across 15 states with a field staff of 150 electricians, will integrate the platform into its service model.
The EMPWR platform offers step-by-step guidance for resolving complex service issues in real time and supports preventive maintenance on Level 2 and Level 3 chargers. By integrating these tools, the partnership aims to improve coordination among site hosts, field technicians, and charger manufacturers, while increasing speed and consistency in service delivery.
This collaboration aligns with broader industry trends, as policymakers move toward formalizing definitions of charger operability and requiring regular performance reporting. The California Energy Commission is expected to issue new uptime metrics to align with federal requirements, and reliability data is playing an increasingly central role in both funding eligibility and investor confidence.
As EV adoption grows — reaching an estimated 9.1% of US market share in 2024 with 1.2 million vehicles sold — charging infrastructure is expected to meet new performance expectations. Delivering consistent uptime will be critical to ensuring that EV drivers receive a dependable fueling experience comparable to that of conventional gas stations.
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News