Is right now the best time to buy an electric vehicle?

According to J.D. Power’s E-Vision Intelligence Report for May, it seems likely that’s the case, thanks to the “policy limbo” the EV market currently finds itself in.

The report, authored by Brent Gruber, executive director of J.D. Power’s electric vehicle practice, said battery-electric vehicles are more affordable now than they will be in the future.

BEV prices have been steadily falling for the past three years, Gruber noted, and have now reached parity with non-BEVs — they even dipped below the average non-BEV transaction price in July of 2024.

The average new BEV transaction price heading into the second quarter of 2025 was $45,600, just $500 more than the average transaction price for a non-BEV vehicle.

But those prices won’t last.

The BEV transaction price currently includes a $7,500 federal clean vehicle tax credit, a credit President Trump has vowed to eliminate. Without that credit, the average BEV transaction price jumps to $51,200 — $6,100 more than non-BEVs. And if the cost of tariffs on imported vehicles and parts is added, that price climbs even higher.

Before all that happens, though, there is a window of opportunity.

“There are currently about 155,000 new EVs sitting on dealer lots that are still eligible for the federal tax incentive and are not subject to tariffs,” Gruber wrote, “creating a unique buying opportunity for those currently in the market. It may not be here for long.”

The E-Vision Intelligence Report, based on data and insights from the monthly J.D. Power EV Index update, as well as the company’s EV Retail Share Forecast, 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study and U.S. Electric Vehicle Consideration Study, also found BEVs’ Q1 market share grew 18% year-over-year despite all the regulatory uncertainty.

Through the first quarter, BEVs represented 9.5% of the market, slightly ahead of J.D. Power’s forecast for largely stagnant growth this year. That increase in volume, the report said, is being driven by mass-market franchise BEV sales, which rose 58% in 2024 to 376,000 units.

Those mass-market brands are also the major reason BEV inventory has swelled to 6.4% of the total new-vehicle supply, with more than 60 BEV models on sale in the U.S.

Grid capacity, scalability top concerns for EV charging companies

Energy capacity constraints and network scalability are the most pressing challenges for EV charging network operators in 2025, according to a new independent survey commissioned by Driivz, a software supplier to EV charging operators and service providers.

The survey of 300 full-time employees in the EV charging industry found more than 90% of respondents expect grid capacity to hinder their growth over the next 12 months. And more than 80% of network operators believe their networks are minimally or only moderately scalable.

The top priorities for charging providers in 2025 include optimizing operations to improve user charging experience, cited by 33%, maintaining network stability and 24/7 availability (27%) and scaling up the number of sites (29%) and fast chargers (25%)

The survey showed charger compatibility issues remain a major obstacle for providers and drivers, with 45% of the respondents citing vehicle-specific compatibility problems as the No. 1 reason for failed charging sessions.

“EV charging operators understand that the number and location of chargers and their reliability are key to more widespread EV adoption by the general public,” Driivz CEO Andrew Bennett said. “Amid surging demand, it’s vital that the EV charging industry identifies and solves for the challenges that constrict scalability and profitability.

“The resounding sentiment from these industry leaders is that energy consumption management and optimization will be major forces for scalability and profitability in 2025 and beyond. Well-managed charging networks lead to higher driver satisfaction, which produces long-term business growth.”

The full report can be downloaded here.

Lucid opens latest studio in New Jersey

EV manufacturer Lucid Group has opened a new studio and service center in Rutherford, N.J., its 43rd such location in North America and 58th globally.

In a news release, Lucid said the new facility was built to serve its rapidly expanding customer base in New Jersey.

“New Jersey drivers have increasingly embraced the award-winning performance, range and design of Lucid and we are delighted to open this expansive new studio and service center for our area customers,” vice president of revenue Erwin Raphael said. “Our passionate Lucid team members are eager to welcome new and prospective customers and deliver the outstanding experience our owners have come to expect from Lucid.”

The Rutherford location is Lucid’s seventh in the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania region and second in New Jersey, joining a studio in Short Hills.

The automaker said its studios offer “an experience tailored to each customer’s preferences, whether they visit in-person, make inquiries entirely online or combine the two.”

Lucid said the studios allow customers to experience the brand and obtain information about its products in locations that underscore the company’s “unique design aesthetic.”