Satisfaction With America’s Public EV Charging Network Hits New Low in 2023
Although electric vehicle owners have the benefit of being able to charge at home, they still need to top up on the road. As the popularity of electric vehicles continues to grow, satisfaction with the options for charging EVs in public is decreasing.
According to the latest J.D. Power U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience study, overall satisfaction with America’s charging infrastructure is at its lowest point since the study began in 2021.
“The declining customer satisfaction scores for public charging should be concerning to automakers,” said Brent Gruber, the executive director of EV practice at J.D. Power. “EV owners continue to have issues with many aspects of public charging, as the cost and speed of charging and the availability of things to do while waiting for their vehicle to charge are the least satisfying aspects.”
Charging speeds at Level 2 charging stations were identified as the biggest issue for EV drivers, with satisfaction in that metric falling by 36 points this year. Overall satisfaction with Level 2 charging stations has declined by 16 points compared to a year ago.
The situation is even worse for DC fast-charging stations, where overall satisfaction fell to 654 points, down 20 from a year ago. Charging speeds were also a major concern for drivers at these stations, with the score for that metric dropping by 30 points.
In addition to slow charging speeds, another significant problem faced by EV owners is the availability of charging stations. Approximately 20 percent of all users surveyed by J.D. Power reported visiting a charging station and failing to get any power into their battery due to station outages or long lines.
One potential solution to these issues is better placement of charging stations. Data suggests that most people prefer fast-charging options while on a road trip, but are content with slower Level 2 charging when they are at places like shopping malls. By strategically planning the placement of charging stations based on customer usage patterns, the entire system could become more efficient.
There is some good news on the horizon, as Tesla’s Superchargers are opening up to more automakers, and vice versa. This means that drivers will have more charging options than ever before. Satisfaction at Tesla’s charging stations remains higher than other providers, making this development particularly beneficial for non-Tesla EV owners.
Although Volta led the way in terms of Level 2 charger satisfaction, Tesla came in second and topped the DC fast charger rankings. This indicates that Tesla’s charging infrastructure is meeting the needs and expectations of its customers.
In conclusion, the satisfaction with America’s public EV charging network has reached a new low in 2023. Issues such as slow charging speeds, station outages, and long lines continue to plague EV owners. However, there is hope for improvement with better placement of charging stations and the expansion of Tesla’s Supercharger network to other automakers. By addressing these challenges, the overall charging experience for electric vehicle owners can be enhanced, leading to greater satisfaction and adoption of electric vehicles in the future.