Editor’s Note: This is a sponsored article created in partnership with Infinum.
Key Takeaways:
- With one in five EV chargers failing, ChargerHelp! is addressing this major issue by building a certified workforce to ensure consistent reliability.
- Terry’s insights show that tackling systemic challenges and building skilled teams is key to overcoming industry obstacles.
- AI and data-driven solutions are setting a new standard for proactive EV charger reliability.
EV charging stations in the U.S. are, on average, less reliable than your typical gas pump.
A 2024 study from Harvard Business School found that one in five charging stations doesn’t actually work.
That’s the problem Kameale C. Terry set out to solve when she launched ChargerHelp! — a tech-driven company focused on repairing and maintaining EV charging stations — in 2020.
Since then, the company has raised $21 million, expanded to 17 states, created a new job category, and helped shape national policy on EV charging reliability.
In the latest episode of Delivered, an online event series hosted by tech consultancy Infinum, Terry discussed the fragmented systems behind EV charging, the lack of skilled labor to support the industry, and how ChargerHelp! is using AI and advocacy to change the game — one technician, one policy, and one data point at a time.
The discussion was led by Chris Bradshaw, the show's host and Product Strategy Director at Infinum.
Participants who tuned into Infinum's show could learn that:
- EV charging is unreliable because different hardware and software systems don’t work well together.
- ChargerHelp! created a new job category to fix the skills gap in charger repairs.
- Its custom app tracks over 19 million data points to predict failures and speed up repairs using AI.
- The company helped shape a California law that forces charger operators to report and improve uptime.
- ChargerHelp! was built from Terry’s personal mission to fight air pollution in underserved communities.
The episode also sheds light on why charger failures are so common and where the EV industry still falls short in fixing them.
As Terry pointed out, much of the problem lies in the lack of integration. EV charging depends on a network of hardware and software providers that are meant to work in sync, but often don’t.
Reliability becomes an uphill battle when shared data standards or proper communication between systems are absent.
At the same time, charging reliability isn’t just a technology issue. It’s also a talent issue.
EV chargers break down in ways that can’t be solved by a standard electrician. The role requires a hybrid skill set that blends electrical know-how with software troubleshooting and tech support.
Building a Workforce and Setting the Standard
It’s a challenge that demands more than just innovation.
So, ChargerHelp! developed a specialized workforce and partnered with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to establish official training and certification standards.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to find that sweet spot where we can do good, make an impact, and create a profitable business,” Terry said.
It’s a model that’s gaining attention for how it blends technology, training, and accountability into a blueprint other industries could learn from.
“We’ve brought attention to a problem the industry wasn’t even talking about, and we brought in people who had never worked in EVs before. It excites me to see what new ideas and companies will grow from the people who’ve been a part of this journey,” she added.
By focusing on both the technical and human elements, ChargerHelp! is setting a new standard for how EV charger maintenance should be handled.
Now, the company is leaning into prevention by using data to stay ahead of failures.
By analyzing more than 19 million data points using AI through its app, ChargerHelp! identifies patterns, flags issues early, and dispatches the right technician before a charger goes down.
It’s a move from reactive fixes to proactive service, driven by real-time insights and smarter operations.
The result is a “reliability-as-a-service” model that gives charger operators peace of mind and gives the industry a blueprint for long-term uptime.
“There’s a lot we still need to improve when it comes to EVs, but we deserve the chance to build something better. Breathing in air that harms us shouldn’t be normal,” Terry added.
This episode of Delivered highlights how solving systemic problems takes the right tools, the right people, and a willingness to rethink the norm.
ChargerHelp! is fixing EV charger failures by addressing the challenges behind them.
Likewise, Pia Baker, Director of Marketing at the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), explained to Delivered that tackling plastic waste starts with redesigning the packaging, rather than relying on recycling alone.
Both show that true change will only come from solving systemic issues, not just the symptoms.
