Economic Matters Committee – March 6, 2024
The following is a transcript of my testimony to the Maryland Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1028, “Business Regulation – Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment – Regulations for Retail Use.” This legislation would require the Comptroller to adopt regulations for the retail use of electric vehicle supply equipment in the State that include requiring an uptime of 97% and establishing civil penalties for non-compliance with the regulations.
To build trust in electric vehicles, reliable charging and transparent pricing are essential.
Good afternoon. My name is Lanny Hartmann.
As an electric vehicle driver, I’ve experienced firsthand both the promise and the challenges of relying on public charging.
Over the past decade, I’ve visited hundreds of charging stations across the country. While many function smoothly, especially those on the Tesla network, a significant number of public charging stations struggle with reliability and uptime.
Millions are being invested in Maryland’s charging infrastructure. Reliability, affordability, and user experience are critical for success.
According to the Department of the Environment, Maryland currently has around 4,000 charging ports, and about 20% of them are in need of maintenance.
In my own testing of about 70 fast chargers in central Maryland, I found that nearly a third of them had issues. These problems included damaged connectors, malfunctioning screens, or the charger would stop abruptly or deliver reduced power.
There’s a need for transparency in charging costs and meter accuracy. I once charged at a station in Hagerstown and was later billed $553 on my credit card. While I eventually got a refund for the mistaken billing, it underscores the importance of accurate metering and fair pricing.
To build trust in electric vehicles, reliable charging and transparent pricing are essential. Fortunately, Maryland is leading the way in setting reliability standards for utility-owned charging stations with HB 834 which the General Assembly passed last year.
Now, with this bill, we have the opportunity to expand upon that success and ensure reliability and accountability for all public charging stations in the state.
Thank you.
Video of ECM Committee Testimony on HB 1028
