Considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century, the U.S. electric grid is now experiencing something of a mid-life crisis in the early innings of the 21st century.
Electric vehicles
Co-op EVolution
The impact of electric vehicles on rural electric cooperatives.
Trends to watch
Charging networks
Continued expansion and fleet electrification
- EV-related grid impacts will continue to grow in 2026, driven by charging-network expansion and rising fleet electrification.
- The U.S. fast-charging network expanded 33% year-over-year to nearly 68,000 ports, averaging 46+ new fast chargers added daily in 2025.
- Advancements in AI-managed charging, increasing vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, and rapid adoption of the NACS plug standard will improve reliability and interoperability across manufacturers.
- Despite softer passenger-vehicle sales, long-term EV interest remains steady and fleet electrification continues to expand across school buses, municipal fleets, and delivery vehicles.
Retail sales
Retail sales growth expected to slow
- U.S. EV sales expected to decline 15%, impacted by loss of the federal $7,500 tax credit and weakened fuel-economy rules.
- U.S. November 2025 EV sales already fell 41% year-over-year as incentives expired.
- Automakers are delaying EV launches or shifting toward hybrid-focused strategies.
Impact on co-ops
Meaningful load growth in 2026
For cooperatives, EV adoption will still generate meaningful 2026 load growth, with opportunities in:
- Managed charging programs
- Commercial and municipal fleet partnerships
- Targeted rate design to align new EV load with system capacity and member affordability
EVs are coming to rural America. Are electric co-ops ready?
CoBank convened 70+ electric cooperatives to tackle the real-world challenges and opportunities EVs pose for rural systems—from rates and infrastructure to member education and strategy.
Safeguarding your electric cooperative’s brand in the EV revolution
EV webinar co-hosted by Paulsen
Knowledge Exchange reports
The electricity sector no longer lives on a one-way street: U.S. consumers are fundamentally reshaping the electric power industry by demanding clean energy and widely adopting grid-edge technologies.
The shift toward electric transportation will take more than just a dealership sale. Our research and discussions with electric cooperatives last year revealed a need for cooperation amongst co-ops and, more broadly, collaboration along the entire supply chain.
As auto manufacturers pivot their business model away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and towards electric vehicles (EVs), the stage is being set for millions of self-driving EVs to buzz through the streets.
Success stories
When Ford recently unveiled plans to build “Blue Oval City,” a major automotive assembly plant in western Tennessee, electric cooperatives across the country paid particularly close attention.
Podcasts
How co-ops are maximizing DER value for members
The popularity of solar panels and EVs shows DERs are here to stay, and proactive utilities are integrating them into their portfolios.
Back to school in an electric bus
CoBank’s Teri Viswanath and Tamra Reynolds go to the head of the class with those already putting electric buses on the road: Albert Burleigh, executive director of EV sales at Blue Bird Corporation; Keith Dennis, president of the Beneficial Electrification League; and Chris Michalowski with Mountain Parks Electric in Colorado.
Planning for tomorrow’s EV adoption begins today
Around 15,000 fully electric or hybrid electric vehicles were traveling American roads in 2011; today that number exceeds 2 million and is accelerating rapidly. But is the U.S. power grid ready to meet the expanding charging needs?
Inside Ford’s strategy to lead America’s shift to electric vehicles
Recorded in the CoBank booth at the NRECA Annual Conference, in this episode of Power Plays CoBank’s Teri Viswanath talks with Dave Hurst, energy services manager with Ford Motor Company. He reveals what the company has learned as it embraces the EV market. Plus, Dr. Gil Tal, director of the Electric Vehicle Research Center at UC Davis, unpacks the factors ahead for EV adoption – including manufacturers’ role to make or break the market.
Reimagining Route 66: Co-ops collaborate with EV charging to reinvigorate rural America
The future of automobiles is clearly electric, and rural cooperatives across the U.S. are plugging in to ensure their communities are equipped with a robust EV charging infrastructure. In this episode, CoBank’s Teri Viswanath and Tamra Reynolds visit with Nate Boettcher, CEO of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services in Wisconsin.