Robotaxis Crowd Public EV Chargers in Major Cities
EV drivers relying on public stations in cities like San Diego may face waits of up to an hour.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Waymo robotaxis are regularly occupying public EV charging stations in several major US cities, with reported cases in San Diego, Nashville, and St. Louis. In San Diego, drivers sometimes wait up to one hour to charge.
Why it matters
Robotaxis compete with private EV owners for the same public chargers, which can lengthen waits for everyday drivers and make charging planning less predictable. Waymo says it relies mainly on its own charging stations but uses public points when necessary, and building its own infrastructure takes time when entering new markets.
Waymo operates its robotaxi service in 15 US cities, and reported public-charger occupancy has come from San Diego, Nashville, and St. Louis. In San Diego, drivers sometimes wait up to one hour for a charging spot.
The players
Waymo
Waymo is an autonomous ride-hailing company operating robotaxis in 15 US cities and relying primarily on its own charging stations.
EVgo
EVgo is a public fast-charging network operator whose San Diego chargers serve both private EV drivers and robotaxis.
The details
Waymo's own charging centers are its priority, but when those are unavailable it uses public charging points. Staff are deployed at certain public charging locations to limit how many vehicles gather at a single station. Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr vans, which are occasionally driven by humans, can use public stations during breaks. EVgo's chargers in San Diego are open to both private EV drivers and robotaxis, and occupying public stations is not illegal.
Timeline
Reporting on robotaxi charging occupancy was published on November 4, 2026.
The Home Front
As robotaxi fleets expand in US metros, they add demand to the same public chargers that home-charging-limited drivers depend on. The pattern places new pressure on public charging access in cities where private EV ownership is already growing.
If you own an EV without a home charger, plan charging stops around known public stations and allow extra time in busy metros like San Diego. A licensed electrician should handle any installation of a home charging unit.
The takeaway
Public charging access is becoming a shared resource between private drivers and robotaxi fleets. Keep a backup charging plan, such as a home charger installed by a licensed electrician or a list of nearby stations, for busy weeks.
Further reading
For broader context on how public charging networks are holding up as EV adoption grows, see Electric Vehicles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Electrive.
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Would you still consider buying an electric car if public chargers were crowded by robotaxis?
