When it comes to building EV infrastructure, many professionals follow a similar pattern: start with what you know. For decades, utilities, contractors, and engineers have worked with the same vendors, the same processes, and the same equipment. It’s a comfort zone. You spec a job. You list the components (transformer, switchgear, meter, charger, rectifiers). You know who to call. You know the pricing. You know what to expect.

This instinct isn’t wrong. It’s practical. In high-stakes projects with tight deadlines and strict permitting requirements, familiarity often feels like the safest path. You trust your utility partner. You’ve built charging stations this way before. Why reinvent the wheel?

The result? Many EV Infrastructure projects still default to traditional stick build methods, even when the drawbacks are well known; long lead times, complex coordination, and an ever-growing list of vendors to manage. It’s a system built for a slower time, before the race to electrify fleets, highways and cities across the country had a deadline.

And yet, we keep returning to it.

Part of the challenge is institutional habit. Utilities and electrical engineers have built careers around processes that worked well in the past. Many procurement departments operate on templates that assume every component will be sourced and installed separately. Familiarity becomes the standard, even if it’s not the best option for today’s demand.

But here’s the thing: the EV world is charging. The pace is faster. The expectation are higher. And the stakes are national.

There is, however, a smarter way forward.

A new approach is emerging, one that simplifies procurement, speeds up installation, and reduces the risk across the board. It’s not just about better tech. It’s about a smarter way to build. A smarter way to buy.

Stay tuned for the next article in our series, where we explore how skid-based systems aren’t just an engineering breakthrough, they’re changing how we plan, purchase, and deliver EV infrastructure.

Rethinking the way you purchase? Let’s talk (sales@akpowers.com). At AK Power Solutions, our E2V Integrate Power Module (IPM) simplifies procurement by combining all major components into a single, pre-engineered solution. If you’re ready to break free from outdated procurement patterns and embrace a faster, smarter build, we’re here to help.