Electric-vehicle charging infrastructure continues to be a main point of concern for potential EV owners, but access to fast charging is growing, so much so that a market analyst expects the majority of new global charging station installations to be fast charge by 2039.

However, fast charging has been linked to battery degradation due to the increased temperatures caused by the high currents needed to speed the charging process. To mitigate that risk, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence said original equipment manufacturers have developed battery management systems that taper charge rates as cells approach higher state-of-charge levels.

The EV supply chain data provider said that the emphasis on fast charging is partially a response to the lack of access to home charging for urban drivers and the demand for commuter convenience. But it predicts that the shift to fast charging will lead to a decline in battery cycle life of as much as 15% to 20%, though a number of factors determine battery cycle life.

Though fast charging offers convenience and a solution to range anxiety, it shouldn’t become the default if customers are looking to preserve their batteries' cycle life, said Benchmark Senior Battery Analyst Varnika Agarwal.

According to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, there are more than 15,000 public fast-charging stations in the U.S. with over 72,000 total charging ports.