The US DC fast charging industry experienced a significant surge in deployment last year, with infrastructure buildout and charging demand both increasing by about 30% year-over-year. According to Paren's new report, the number of new DC fast charging ports added in 2025 exceeded expectations, with over 18,000 new ports deployed nationwide.
This growth was driven by larger, higher-capacity stations designed for higher throughput and more consistent utilization, rather than small, sparse sites. The biggest surprise came at the end of the year, with Q4 2025 shattering all prior deployment records, with operators rolling out 5,769 new DCFC ports – 44% more than in Q4 2024.
Tesla continued to expand its Supercharger network at a rapid clip, but newer and expanding players like Mercedes-Benz HPC also exceeded expectations. The report suggests that momentum is increasingly being driven by private operators without federal stimulus, which stands in contrast to the 'EV slowdown' narrative that dominated much of 2025.
Rapid expansion hasn't led to empty chargers, with nationwide utilization rates remaining stable in 2025, suggesting that new supply is largely demand-led rather than speculative. The growth in EV adoption translated directly into more charging sessions, not idle assets, with US fast-charging networks delivering an estimated 141 million charging sessions in 2025, a record and a roughly 30% year-over-year increase.
This surge in DC fast charger deployment is a promising sign for the EV market, as it indicates that private operators are confident in their ability to drive growth without relying on federal stimulus. The shift towards larger, higher-capacity stations also suggests that the industry is moving towards more efficient and sustainable charging solutions.
