Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already changing the game in industries like healthcare and finance, and now it’s starting to do the same for EV charging. Whether it’s predicting when a charger might break, helping balance energy use, or making charging more convenient for drivers, AI is opening up new possibilities. So, how exactly is AI shaping the future of EV charging? Let’s take a closer look.
While there has been a growing belief that electric vehicles (EVs) are losing momentum, studies tell a different story. According to the International Energy Agency’s EV Outlook 2025, global EV sales have never declined; they’ve consistently increased. And the forecasts for the upcoming years are also optimistic. By 2030, some studies suggest there could be 350 million electric vehicles on the global roads.
This level of electrification sure will have a positive impact on our greenhouse gas emission levels but could pose quite a risk to our power grids. What we need to handle the rising demand is more flexible charging infrastructures and the use of smart charging. Not only can smart charging ensure the energy system isn’t overburdened but it also provides increased stability and share of renewables.
Artificial intelligence (AI), which is already lending us its helping hand in almost every industry as well as in our personal lives, could make a real difference for the EV charging industry. Although AI in EV charging is still emerging, its potential is huge. In the coming years, we expect AI to play a growing role across many areas. We spoke with Jussi Ahtikari, Chief AI Officer at Virta, to hear his take on where things are heading.
Predictive maintenance & troubleshooting
Currently, most AI use cases focus on predictive maintenance, where a machine learning model detects a broken charging station and reboots it remotely.
Out-of-service chargers not only frustrate EV drivers but also cost charger operators money. Predictive maintenance helps keep charging infrastructures operational leading to more predictable revenues and satisfied EV drivers.
Business development & planning
Especially companies entering the EV charging industry or expanding their operations can benefit from AI and its forecasting capabilities. AI could identify ideal locations for EV charging installations, estimate how much revenue could be made from different charger types, and recommend optimal prices based on location and time to maximise profits.
“AI can make it easier for charge point operators to build profitable EV charging businesses,” says Jussi.
Beyond planning, AI can also optimise and improve the use of current grid and site connections to make the most of limited energy resources and reduce the need for costly upgrades.
Fleet route optimisation
Electrification of the fleet sector is rapdily growing. In 2024, 2-3% of fleet vehicles were electric while in 2030, that number should rise to 10-11%. For the fleet sector, AI gets especially interesting when it combines route planning with smart charging. It can take into consideration charger availability and predict usage patterns, so drivers are guided to reliable charging stops, avoiding delays and downtime. This is very useful for commercial and heavy-duty fleets.
Energy management & load balancing
“Energy management is a big topic,” Jussi notes, “mainly since renewable sources like solar and wind behave differently to non-renewable types of electricity. That’s why we need resources that are able to react quickly to renewable production fluctuations.”
One key resource is batteries – especially those in electric vehicles. In fact, EVs already make up majority of the global battery capacity and by the 2040s, EVs will add up to over 30 TWh of installed battery storage capacity.
How AI works in this use case is by predicting when and how we should use this distributed battery capacity. By analysing patterns, AI can forecast demand and advise EV drivers to charge during specific hours, even offering them lower rates, to ensure we have enough capacity (EVs connected) when we truly need it.
AI can also power load balancing to ensure multiple EVs charging simultaneously don’t blow up the fuses.
Personalised EV charging experiences
While Jussi believes that AI’s biggest impact will be on EV charging companies and their way of working, there are still ways AI can enhance EV driver experiences.
For one, it can recognise patterns in driver habits. Driving to the same place every week? AI can automatically reserve an available charger on the route in advance to ensure no waiting times. If that charger is in use, automatic re-routing to the next available charger would help keep the journey smooth.
AI could also enable useful advertising. Since even fast charging takes at least 15 minutes, AI can highlight nearby services like coffee shops or grocery stores via the vehicle’s interface and even highlight a special offer.
Virta and AI
At Virta, our mission is to enable our customers to build profitable charging businesses and the best experience for EV drivers. Jussi believes that AI development is a big part of achieving that.
“At Virta, the biggest value we can bring is our extensive experience in the EV charging space. You can have the deepest technological knowledge about AI, but without the EV charging knowledge and without knowing what the industry is all about, AI won’t deliver real value,” says Jussi.
Thanks to our experience of over 10 years and the vast amount of data we have gathered over time, we’re well positioned to develop AI tools that help our customers run profitable operations.