With nearly half of 2025 in the rearview mirror, let’s take a look at some of the most mind-blowing developments in EV charging in 2025 so far. We’re not only talking about technologies — we also have uncovered new strategies that can be game-changers for your EV charging business and the industry at large. Here we go!
1. DC Fast Charging Becomes a Winner for Retailers and Grocers
For the first time in its (albeit young) history, DC fast charging turned a profit for grocery and retail stores, as a Driivz post notes. It’s no wonder. It simply makes sense. DC fast charging saves their customers time.
Two Birds, One Profitable Stone
Killing the proverbial two birds with one stone has massive appeal to busy Americans who haven’t the time to stand around twiddling their thumbs while their cars charge. Grocery stores or retailers with DC fast charging options allow customers to check off items on their shopping lists as their EVs charge. Customers can pop in and out and get on with their day with a fully charged car in only a few minutes.
But How About DC Fast Charging at Fast-Food Restaurants?
If you’re a retail or grocery store owner, it’s time to hop onto the DC fast charging train. We’d advise fast-food restaurants to do likewise. Grabbing a quick meal while your car gets a full charge could also be a moneymaker for fast-food eateries that install EV fast chargers for their customers’ convenience.
2. AI-Driven Predictive Solutions Make EV Charging More Competitive
New EV charging technologies sprouting up in 2025 have the potential to make EV charging businesses more competitive with gas and diesel fueling stations. AI-driven predictive analytics are already making waves, enabling more EV adoption, not only in the passenger car sector but also in the fleet vehicle space, as the Driivz article points out.
Charging Passenger Cars Simplified
While AI algorithms can’t speed up charging time, they can definitely lessen some of the charging hassles that have slowed the EV adoption rate nationwide. With their capability for analyzing real-time data across a wide range of variables, they can balance grid capacity and boost reliability, two of the key factors that contribute to EV charger downtime.
But there’s more. With AI-enhanced charging management software, EV charging stations can slash charging prices by calculating optimum times to charge and better maintain their charger inventory by predicting equipment issues. They can even personalize customer experience by leveraging user behavior to predict the type of service customers want.
AI predictive software can also factor in the weather, customer loyalty insights, and historical data to provide customers with deals they can hardly refuse. Even better, some of the data analyses this software can provide might someday offer insights into how to improve new charging technologies that can indeed boost charging speed to match that of gas pumps.
Making EV Fleet Adoption Feasible
On the commercial fleet side of EV charging analytics, AI-driven energy management and charging solutions can provide fleet managers with more efficient route planning by factoring in weather, traffic delays, and charger availability. As with passenger car chargers, this software’s predictive capability can detect — and often repair — charging anomalies before they cause major problems.
Another feature of AI-driven predictive analytics is their ability to mix external data into their forecasts. This information can include more than weather conditions, logistical factors, and route delays. With data pouring in that find EV fleet vehicles to be safer and more economical over time, more fleet managers will likely consider electrifying at least part of their fleets.
3. Off-Grid Energy Resources Go Mainstream
Distributed energy resources (DERs) — devices capable of generating or storing electricity without a connection to the grid — have risen in popularity along with the rate of EV adoption. Whether for home charging or EV fleet usage, these off-grid energy producers can operate in remote areas to furnish power for electric vehicles traveling through the area.
DERs can include wind turbines, solar panels, battery energy storage systems (BESS), hydrogen fuel cells, micro-hydropower systems, waste heat recovery systems, and even EV batteries. EV batteries aren’t only useful when they are capable of charging cars. Even after they are past their useful life in powering vehicles, they can still serve as energy storage devices, making them valuable sources of electricity in the event of grid outages or during peak usage hours.
4. V2G Capability Among Emerging EV Charging Technologies in 2025
One of the top perks of owning EVs is using them as alternate energy sources to power homes and businesses. Even better, owners can feed energy from their cars’ batteries back into the grid for extra revenue through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
However, to take advantage of that capability, EV owners need to have two things: 1) a vehicle that supports bidirectional charging and 2) a bidirectional charger on the premises.
In 2025 America, V2G capability comes with the following vehicles:
- Ford F-150 Lightning EV: This hard-working pickup truck can keep the lights on at home and earn you extra money during peak usage hours, but there’s a catch. You’ll need to pair the truck with the Ford Charge Station Pro since bidirectional charging will only work with this specific charger.
- Kia EV9 EV: With three-row seating and a 304-mile range, this SUV can also rake in the money while you work or relax through V2G charging. While you must install the Wallbox Quasar 2 charger to use the car’s bidirectional capability, you can use the charger for other V2G-capable vehicles as well, thanks to its interoperability standards.
- Nissan Leaf: This economical EV is the perfect addition to your light-duty fleet at a mere $28,140. It can save you even more money when you install the Fermata FE-20 bidirectional charger on your property. Thanks to its ability to feed energy back into the grid, you can earn passive revenue for your fleet service. However, the charger only works in commercial applications, so it is not yet suitable for home installations.
5. Solid-State Batteries Cruise Through Testing for a 2026-2027 Launch
Toyota’s solid-state prototype battery looks to provide EV owners with a 750-mile range and ultra-fast charging times. So far, tests show that the battery will make its debut in 2026 or 2027.
If current testing through 2025 continues to yield positive results, cars with these solid-state batteries could revolutionize not only the EV charging industry but also the automotive industry as a whole. Combining Toyota cars’ legendary longevity with a fast-charging, long-range electric battery could convert a multitude of Toyota loyalists into becoming EV owners.
6. EV Chargers Become the Must-Have Amenity in Multi-Family Housing
In 2025, 85% of American renters put green living spaces near the top of their “I want” lists when searching for an apartment or condo. For real estate developers and apartment complex owners, this statistic makes installing EV chargers a top priority for both new builds and retrofit projects.
If your complex management can foot the initial bill, we recommend installing EV chargers for every unit so that tenants do not need to share charging availability with others. Whether in each tenant’s garage or parking space, having an EV charger available without waiting will increase tenant satisfaction and reduce tension among neighbors. In addition, it reduces your chance of a lawsuit in case a desperate tenant hooks up an extension cord to charge their car and causes a fire.
Indeed, EV chargers add an extra touch of environmentally friendly living to a rental home. More importantly, they also help renters save money — up to 65% on fuel and 40% on maintenance and repairs, should tenants choose an EV to complete their eco-friendly lifestyle.
7. Scalable, Modular Charging Solutions Make Expansion a Breeze
As EV usage increases nationwide, businesses offering EV charging will want to expand their offerings. Whether it’s adding popular DC fast charging to a collection of Level 2 chargers or more Level 2 chargers to accommodate a growth spurt, 2025’s innovative modular charging solutions can be the cost-effective way to grow your business at scale, adapting to change as business grows.
Modular charging solutions employ separate components that enable EV charging station owners to easily add or upgrade more components as they grow. Having scalable, top-of-the-line EV chargers is well worth the splurge. Don’t settle for less than smart technology that monitors your equipment in real time, balances the load according to shifts in the grid’s power, and allows you and your team to monitor stations remotely.
Discover More Game-Changing New Developments in EV Charging at the Summit
The premier showcase for all things innovative in the EV charging world, the EV Charging Summit brings the world’s top minds in the EV space together to share their knowledge, introduce technological breakthroughs, and teach charging professionals about business strategies that can ensure a better shot at success.
Don’t wait to get yourself and your team registered for the next EV Charging Summit event. Claim your spot today!
