EV Chargers Get Higher Marks

A bright spot shined for electric vehicles in the results of a survey on public chargers.

The J.D. Power poll found consumers’ view of existing U.S. direct-current fast charging, or DCFC, infrastructure took a turn for the better in the first quarter to their highest level since it started the polls in 2021. And in another surprise twist, non-Tesla chargers led the upturn.

After a nearly two-year non-Tesla charger satisfaction decline, the survey found DCFC infrastructure satisfaction rose 16 points to 663 on a 1,000-point scale quarter-over-quarter. Satisfaction with level two chargers rose nine points to 610.

Driving the shift were sizable increases in charger speed, ease and availability, in addition to charging failures from station outages and malfunctions falling significantly from a discouraging 71% to 59%, J.D. Power says.

The data provider said Tesla charging equipment still has the highest overall consumer satisfaction levels, but the quarter’s overall infrastructure satisfaction increase came on the strength of non-Tesla DCFC stations, which enjoyed a 19-point surge.

The change is significant because consumer perception of inadequate public chargers has been the leading cited reason for many who resist buying electric vehicles.

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