Public Charging Issues May Short-Circuit EV Growth, J.D. Power Finds

[Caribbeans]

Public Charging Issues May Short-Circuit EV Growth, J.D. Power Finds

J.D. Power | 16 August 2023

TROY, Mich.: 16 Aug. 2023 — While automakers continue to introduce new electric vehicles (EVs) and experience growth in market share, the beleaguered public vehicle charging infrastructure has not kept pace. If anything, it is falling further behind. The recent move to open Tesla Superchargers to non-Tesla owners could improve the situation, but such effort might not be the answer that some suggest, as overall satisfaction continues to decline, according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Public Charging Study,SM released today.

Despite the increase in public charging stations across the United States, customer satisfaction with public Level 2 charging has declined to 617 (on a 1,000-point scale), 16 points lower than a year ago and the lowest level since the study began in 2021. Though purported to be the wave of the future, satisfaction with DC (direct current) fast chargers has declined even further, dropping 20 points to 654. More troubling is that satisfaction in both charging station segments has declined in nearly every attribute measured in the study. Since consumer skepticism regarding public charging availability is the primary reason vehicle shoppers reject EVs, this performance could prove to be a further hindrance to EV acceptance.

"The declining customer satisfaction scores for public charging should be concerning to automakers and, more broadly, to public charging stakeholders," said Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power. "The availability of public charging stations is still a critical obstacle, but it isn't the only one. 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. At the same time, the reliability of public chargers continues to be a problem. The situation is stuck at a level where one of every five visits ends without charging, the majority of which are due to station outages."

Tesla owners are relatively satisfied with the Tesla Supercharger network (745), but when they go outside the network to use other public charging options, satisfaction declines by nearly 200 points (550). “With greater adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) pioneered by Tesla, it may provide a boost in fast-charging satisfaction among owners of EVs from other brands as they begin to use Tesla’s Supercharger stations,” Gruber said. “We’re monitoring whether the use of Tesla Superchargers by non-Tesla owners will affect satisfaction, but the move does help address charger scarcity and offer access to industry-leading reliable chargers. It’s just too early to tell if it can reach the satisfaction levels of Tesla owners who are already part of that fully integrated Tesla ecosystem.”

Following are key findings of the 2023 study: more
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-electric-vehicle-experience-evx-public-charging-study



Batteries and only batteries are not going to suit everyone. That is simply a fact.

[Think. Again.]

1. really...

Has there ever been a concern that 'public satisfaction' of gas stations is going to kill the internal combustion engine market?

[LiberaBlueDem]

2. Charge your EV at home

From solar panels on your roof.

Really, what we need is a small car mass produced by the government using standardized parts. Car USA we'll call it.

Most trips are under 25 miles so a small car with a small battery is what's called for.

Then a $10 a gallon tax on gas will make EV's for longer trips much more afforable.

[CentralMass]

4. This company Aptera is getting close to production of it EV.

It admittedly is an unorthodox vehicle but they have a very compelling design. It is very efficient EV that only uses 100 wH per mile of electricity. That efficiency allows the to take advantage of 700 watts if solar panel that are molded into the vehickes surface.if you park it in the sun those solar panels can provide up to 40 miles of charge per day or between around 7,000 to 11 00 miles per year of driving dependendingbon on where you live
It has Tesla style, NACS, charging outlet on the back and can be charge with either a 110V extension cord at home or levels 1,2, or 3 (DC Fast) charge if the built solar is not enough

?si=ZjOdPeKpG2s_akxT

I have a reservation to purchase one.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. So, 75-80% of people find the charging experience *reliable*?

Room for improvement, but not bad for an emerging technology.

I bet gas stations weren’t as common or reliable the first decade cars were on the road.

[CentralMass]

6. +1

[CentralMass]

5. I have some public chargers close to where I live in Oregon.

I often park near them when I go shopping and try a talk to EV owners if I encounter any.
They all seem to really like their EV's.. most are DC Fast charging while they shop or grab a bite to eat.
I've also talked with EV iownr on my road trips to the coast and the owners all seem happy with them

I think your statement that batteries are not going to suit everyone's needs may indeed be true but the Biden Infrastructure bill has provided substantial funding to expand the infrastructure.

This year old map show that that there are already a substantial number of locations that have them.

https://www.govtech.com/fs/interactive-map-shows-every-ev-charging-station-in-u-s

I know that you are a hydrogen proponent. The hydrogen infrastructure to fuel hydrogen vehicles exists just about nowhere while the electrical grid exist just about everywhere. Most homeowners can plug-in charge overnight at home to handle the bulk of their daily driving needs.

Where are you going to fuel up your hydrogen powered vehicle on a road trip? Or at home for thtt matter. EV's also hav huge efficiency advantage in the use of electrical energy over hydrigen powered cars fuel by hydrogen produced with electricity. About a 3 to 1 advantage.