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The public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the United States continues to face challenges, but recent data from J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Public Charging Study shows signs of improvement. For the second consecutive quarter, overall satisfaction with public charging has increased, despite ongoing issues such as the growing number of EVs outpacing the expansion of charging stations.
Key Highlights:
- DC fast charger satisfaction increased to 664 on a 1,000-point scale, marking a 10-point rise from 2023.
- Level 2 charger satisfaction decreased by 3 points, settling at 614.
- Tesla Supercharger access for non-Tesla owners contributes to the rise in DC fast charger satisfaction.
- Automatic payment systems are favored by EV owners, offering a more streamlined and satisfying experience compared to traditional payment methods.
- 19% of EV owners experienced charging issues, with out-of-service chargers being the most common problem.
Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power, noted, “While the customer satisfaction scores for public charging continue to prompt concern, the results offer reasons for optimism.”
The study also found that Tesla owners remain highly satisfied with their exclusive Supercharger network, even as non-Tesla owners gain access. Tesla’s score for ease of charging remains strong, though a decline in satisfaction with Supercharger availability has been observed among Tesla users.
Despite these positive trends, issues persist. Charging failures remain a concern, with 19% of EV owners reporting failed charging attempts. The primary causes include out-of-service chargers and vandalism, particularly in certain regions.
As the industry continues to expand, improving charger availability and reducing failures will be crucial to sustaining these gains in customer satisfaction.
The 2024 study, conducted in collaboration with PlugShare, gathered insights from 9,605 EV owners from January to June 2024, measuring satisfaction across 10 key factors related to public charging experiences.
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