The new standards aim to tackle these problems and make charging an EV a simple process. They set rules for federally funded public charging stations, not ones that homeowners or workplaces might build with their own money. The regulations include many provisions, but the ones most relevant for consumers are: 

• Minimal out of order time: Chargers are required to be working 97% of the time that they’re scheduled to be available. 
• Universal charging app: Drivers must be able to pay using a universal app, no matter which company installed the charging station. And charging companies must make their locations, price and availability publicly available. 
• Price transparency: Once a consumer locks in a price, that must remain the price for the rest of the charging session. Any fees besides the price of electricity must be clearly explained. 
• Payment methods: Charging stations must accept contactless credit and debit cards, as well as payment by phone or text – with no membership requirements. 
• Type of connector: There are three types of DC fast charging connectors: Combined Charging System (CCS), Tesla and CHAdeMO. CCS is the most common connector, so the standards require these ports on all DC fast chargers, though other types can be included as well. Tesla chargers have historically been limited to Tesla vehicles, but to be eligible for federal funding, the company agreed to open 7,500 of its chargers to other vehicles by the end of 2024. 
• 24/7 operation on Alternative Fuel Corridors: Any charging station along a federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridor must be open 24/7. Chargers in other areas must be open whenever the business that hosts them is open. 
• Reporting issues: Vehicle owners must have a mechanism to report issues with chargers. 
• Four ports per charging station: All federally funded charging stations must have a minimum of four ports, allowing at least four vehicles to charge at once to meet growing demand and provide redundancy in case any port is out of order. Along Alternative Fuel Corridors, those four ports must be DC fast charging ports; in other locations, they can be either DC fast charging or Level 2 ports.  
• Buy America requirements: All EV chargers must be assembled in the United States, and by July 2024, American-made products must account for 55% of the total value of components in a charger. 
• Technician training: Technicians installing or maintaining chargers must have a certification from the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program. Consumers can also use the program’s website to find contractors to install home charging stations. 

• Cybersecurity: Charging stations can collect only information necessary to provide the service, and must take measures to safeguard customer data. States must also develop cybersecurity measures for EV chargers.