Vontier CEO Mark Morelli recently discussed the future of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, offering a realistic view of both the opportunities and the roadblocks ahead. Speaking on the rollout of next-generation charging technology, Morelli emphasized that while ultra-fast charging—like one-megawatt systems—is exciting, it’s only part of the puzzle. “Time to charge is a big deal,” he said, “but it’s not the only thing.”
Morelli pointed to several challenges holding back EV adoption, including the physical placement of chargers, network reliability, and the sheer number of chargers needed. “This is a very costly infrastructure to roll out,” he noted. One megawatt of charging power—the level needed to meet future demands—draws as much electricity as “about two Whole Foods grocery stores.” That level of consumption, he added, puts immense pressure on the electrical grid, which is already strained by competing demands like data centers.
The CEO contrasted U.S. progress with China’s, where “they’re backed by the government” and moving faster due to public investment. In the U.S., he said, mass adoption won’t happen until “the government really steps forward and makes that kind of investment.” Current EV infrastructure, he explained, “only works for the early adopters.” Attracting mainstream drivers requires incentives and a dramatic scale-up in both charger deployment and grid upgrades.
Beyond charging speed, Morelli highlighted another often-overlooked barrier: compatibility. “Hardly any vehicles on the road today would be able to accept this rate of charge,” he said. Vehicle platforms will need to evolve alongside charging infrastructure, meaning carmakers also face major investment demands.
Vontier is tackling the reliability issue head-on by focusing on software that boosts uptime—a chronic weakness in the industry. “We work a lot on uptime, which has been a big problem,” Morelli said. He emphasized that Vontier is both hardware- and vehicle-agnostic, aiming to stay flexible and avoid brand-specific pitfalls like those sometimes associated with Tesla.
When asked about the broader impact of backlash against Tesla and CEO Elon Musk, Morelli said the EV space is no longer defined by one player. “It’s going to take more than one company,” he explained. “Mass market adoption… is going to require the whole ecosystem moving forward.”
Ultimately, Morelli reinforced his belief in a multi-fuel future. “While we love EV charging… it’s going to be optionality for many decades,” he said. Alongside electric solutions, Vontier also supports infrastructure for compressed natural gas, renewable fuels, and traditional petrol. “It’s about bringing our customers forward in a very realistic way.”
His message was clear: electrification is coming—but it will require time, collaboration, and significant investment to move from early adopters to the mainstream.