Public chargers are indeed getting more reliable, but finding an open spot now becomes a game of luck.
Electric vehicle (EV) owners in the U.S. have reason to be cautiously optimistic, as recent data suggests public EV chargers are becoming more reliable. However, while the machines might be getting their act together, finding one that’s free is increasingly difficult.
According to the latest scoop from J.D. Power’s charging satisfaction survey, as reported by Automotive News, the last quarter of the year showed an 18% failure rate in charging attempts. That’s a slight improvement from the previous nine months, but let’s be honest, when you’re running on electric fumes, any failure rate is a buzzkill. The main culprits? Good old malfunctions and outages are responsible for 71% of those failed attempts to charge up.
Imagine pulling up to a charger, only to find it’s on a break. Or worse, there’s a line that makes Black Friday queues look like a quick trip to the grocery store. Yep, that’s the reality for 20% of EV owners seeking a charge in the last quarter of 2023, finding either offline chargers or lines longer than a summer day.
The spotlight often shines on the fast and furious DC chargers, those superheroes that can zap your EV with energy in about 20 minutes. But it’s the Level 2 chargers, the ones you’d find at your local mall or hotel, that seem to be feeling a bit neglected. J.D. Power noted a significant drop in satisfaction with these guys, plummeting 28 points in satisfaction scores from the same time in 2022. It seems while everyone’s eyes are on the speedy Gonzales of charging, these tortoises of the charging world are getting left in the dust.
Yet, even as we race to plant more DC chargers across the landscape, the numbers tell us we’re not keeping up. Last year saw a 31% increase in DC ports but only a 13% bump in Level 2 spots. ChargePoint sessions jumped by 39%, but the infrastructure grew by just 18%. It’s like inviting more guests to the party without buying extra snacks.
Brent Gruber from J.D. Power laid it out plain and simple: we might be so dazzled by the allure of DC fast charging that we’re forgetting about the humble Level 2 chargers, still a crucial pit stop for many drivers.
On the brighter side, when it comes to crowning the king of EV chargers, Tesla’s Supercharger network snagged the top spot for DC fast charging satisfaction. Meanwhile, Volta danced away with the Level 2 charger crown, with Tesla’s Destination chargers trailing behind.
Overall, the EV charging scene in the U.S. is like a puzzle, still missing a few pieces. More chargers, more reliability, and a better balance between fast and Level 2 charging options are the keys to keeping EV drivers happy and the electric dream alive. As EV sales in America continue to grow, let’s hope the charging infrastructure can shift into high gear to match.
