New research shows operators prioritizing uptime, AI-driven operations, and charger utilization as networks mature

Driivz, a Vontier (NYSE:VNT) company and leading global software supplier to electric vehicle (EV) charging operators and service providers, today released its 2026 State of EV Charging Network Operators Report, based on industry data gathered from 300 senior EV charging professionals across North America and Europe.

The findings reveal a decisive industry shift from rapid infrastructure build-out toward what Driivz calls ‘intelligent profitability' or the optimization of uptime, utilization and operations rather than simply deploying more chargers.

Among the report's key findings:

59% of operators cite charger reliability and stability as the industry's top challenge, overtaking energy constraints for the first time in the report's history
67% say AI is "very important" or "critical" to company growth
59% rank increased charger utilization as the industry's top profitability driver
47% prioritize 24/7 network availability and 43% prioritize seamless authentication to ensure good charging experiences in 2026

"The EV charging industry is rapidly maturing, shifting from a focus on deployment to operational intelligence," said Shiri Levi-Laor, CEO of Driivz. "Those who deliver reliable, highly utilized networks powered by real-time operational insight and seamless driver experience at scale will define the next generation of companies leading the industry. AI does not go far enough; true intelligence in the charging ecosystem will come from the strength and quality of operational data driving every decision."

Intelligent profitability is increasingly powered by AI. The report highlights AI's expanding role across anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, pricing optimization, demand charge reduction and network planning, with operators ranking anomaly detection (72%), pricing optimization (70%) and predictive maintenance (69%) as the top use cases expected to drive operational improvements. Yet nearly two-thirds said data quality gaps and integration complexity are limiting their ability to fully implement AI-driven strategies, pointing to the next frontier operators must cross to realize the full promise of intelligent profitability.

Driver experience is also gaining urgency as networks mature, with operators increasingly viewing reliability, seamless authentication and flexible payment capabilities as competitive differentiators. Reliability concerns were especially pronounced among larger networks, where 73% identified uptime and stability as a top challenge.

On cybersecurity, 64% of operators described their readiness as robust or very robust, though many lag on advanced protections such as fraud detection, 24/7 threat monitoring, encryption controls and vulnerability scanning, which are gaps that pose a real risk to the reliable, trusted networks that intelligent profitability demands.

Driivz processes more than four billion data points across 100 terabytes of global charging data, giving Driivz the unmatched intelligence needed to help operators improve reliability, optimize energy management and build profitable networks at scale.

The full 2026 State of EV Charging Network Operators Report is available for download on the Driivz website.

ABOUT DRIIVZ

Driivz, a Vontier (NYSE:VNT) company, is a leading global software supplier to EV charging operators and service providers, accelerating the plug-in EV industry's dynamic and continuous transformation. The company's intelligent, cloud-based platform spans EV charging operations, energy management, advanced billing capabilities and driver self-service tools. Driivz's team of EV experts serves customers in 36 countries, including global industry players such as Element, EVgo, Shell, Circle K, Volvo Group, Recharge, St1, ESB, Mer, Francis Energy, Ennet Corporation and eMobility Power. The Driivz platform currently includes over 3M Ports and has processed over 50M transactions for millions of EV drivers in North America, Europe and APAC. For more information, please visit www.driivz.com.

ABOUT VONTIER

Vontier (NYSE:VNT) is a global industrial technology company uniting productivity, automation and multi-energy technologies to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving, more connected mobility ecosystem. Leveraging leading market positions, decades of domain expertise and unparalleled portfolio breadth, Vontier powers the way the world moves — delivering smart, safe and sustainable solutions to our customers and the planet. Vontier has a culture of continuous improvement and innovation built upon the foundation of the Vontier Business System and embraced by colleagues worldwide. Additional information about Vontier is available on the Company's website at www.vontier.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Kristin Ford-Glencross

vontier@antennagroup.com

Driivz Annual Report Finds Shift in EV Charging Industry From Expansion to Intelligent Profitability