Rivian and Tesla boast the most dependable charging networks in America. Other companies still have significant areas where they can enhance their services.
- Electric vehicle owners encountered issues roughly 50% of the times they tried to use Shell Recharge stations, as per a recent investigation.
- EVgo and Blink charging stations also received low marks from customers regarding reliability, primarily due to problems with their payment systems and faulty equipment.
- Tesla Superchargers and the Rivian Adventure Network stand out as the most reliable charging options in the United States.
Traveling by road using an electric vehicle is getting progressively simpler in the United States due to a growing array of public charging stations. However, this experience still falls short of being ideal. A recent development has highlighted this issue further. Consumer Reports The study revealed that certain charging networks are riddled with bugs, giving drivers approximately a 50% probability of encountering issues when they arrive to power up their vehicles.
The study The survey polled 1,230 drivers of all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models. Rankings were based on user feedback regarding the reliability of charging sessions within their respective networks. Tesla Supercharger The network remained at the forefront, with problems surfacing in only 4% of the sessions.
Rivian Has a much more limited network of chargers but was nearly as reliable as Tesla. Only 5% of its charging sessions experienced issues. This indicates that whether you use one of these networks, you can be fairly confident that the charger will function properly.
The Rivian R1S at a Rivian charging station
One cannot say the same about Shell Recharge and EVgo stations. Users encountered difficulties at Shell Recharge locations nearly half of the time they attempted to charge, according to the report. Similarly, EVgo chargers were problematic 41% of the times they were used. Although Electrify America (with an issue rate of 35%) and ChargePoint (at 21%) performed somewhat better, both networks still require enhancements.
Faulty payment systems, malfunctioning hardware, and sluggish charging rates presented the major concerns. An overwhelming 76% of the complaints revolved around non-responsive touchscreens or screens showing confusing error messages.
| Charging Infrastructure (According to Consumer Reports) | Percentage of Charging Sessions Encountering Issues |
| Shell Recharge | 48% |
|
EVgo |
43% |
| Blink | 41% |
| AmpUp | 38% |
| Electrify America | 35% |
| Volta | 33% |
| EV Connect | 31% |
| ChargePoint | 24% |
| FLO | 24% |
| Rivian | 5% |
| Tesla | 4% |
| Other | 16% |
Although charging rates are influenced by the vehicle’s capacity to handle different voltages and currents, any issues with damaged components or payments fall upon the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) providers and charge point operators (CPOs), assuming such damages aren’t due to vandalism.
Charging stations owned by multiple parties or utilizing services from various providers require increased cooperation to identify and resolve any specific problem.
The GMC Hummer EV is getting charged at an EVgo quick-charging station.
"One significant aspect might be that the operators of charging networks are utilizing various hardware and software components which do not integrate effectively," said Drew Toher, who serves as the sustainability campaign manager for Consumer Reports , told InsideEVs ." This introduces further complications for monitoring, identifying, and resolving these problems," he mentioned additionally.
Tesla and Rivian succeed due to their comprehensive approach in designing, manufacturing, and operating their charging infrastructure. By owning and controlling all aspects of the software ecosystem, these companies ensure efficient update rollouts, bug fixes, and consistent reliability. Additionally, both brands offer smooth integration between vehicles. For instance, Tesla drivers only need to connect their cars post initial setup via an app and membership registration at purchase; this eliminates the hassle of handling transactions or managing payment details manually each time they recharge.
Toher mentioned that issues at charging stations involving various stakeholders could be resolved through better transparency to ensure smooth operations.
“Charging networks can provide open access to real-time station data, provide better methods for consumers to identify problems at stations, take measures to address them quickly and track their progress to ensure network health steadily improves." We’re already seeing this happen in some capacity with Electrify America having improved its charging experience over time .
"When it comes to issues with broken or unresponsive screens, which is frequently reported by electric vehicle owners, a likely cause may be due to how charging networks determine uptime," explained Toher. "Uptime for them means the station is getting electrical power rather than ensuring it’s fully operational." Therefore, even though a station receives energy from the grid, the parts responsible for transferring this electricity to EVs—such as cables or dispensing units—might still malfunction.
Toher explained that for drivers, this problem manifests as charging stations appearing functional through apps or maps, only to leave them stranded and in search of an alternative solution,
Electric vehicle drivers can address these concerns through proper planning and practice. Apps based within communities, like PlugShare can tell you the real-time availability and status of public charging stations. If battery preconditioning is available, drivers can ensure that's on before they reach the charging station to ensure optimal pack temperature for faster charging.
Securing a Level 2 home charger would meet the majority of your driving requirements. Besides, roughly 80% of electric vehicle charging occurs at residential locations, as reported by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Nevertheless, charging firms must take further steps to enhance reliability. The report indicates that 19% of issues encountered by electric vehicle owners were related to chargers failing to start despite successful payments being processed. This implies they paid for a service they did not actually get.
“Toher stated that with these findings, CR is urging all charging networks to assume responsibility for their performance and adopt strategies to enhance reliability.”
“Through reporting cracked screens, payment problems, and sluggish charging speeds, community members are collectively gathering information that will ensure charging networks are held responsible and enhance drivers' experiences with public charging," he said.
Got a suggestion? Reach out to the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
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