The Most Common EV Charging Problems—and How to Avoid Them

The Most Common EV Charging Problems—and How to Avoid Them

  • 18.03.2025 11:29
  • consumerreports.org
  • Keywords: Tesla, Rivian

Electric car owners face issues in 1 out of every 5 public charging sessions, primarily due to payment problems and faulty hardware. Tesla Superchargers and Rivian’s network have fewer issues compared to others like Shell Recharge.

Tesla ProductsTSLAsentiment_satisfiedRIVNsentiment_satisfied
open_in_newOriginal article

Estimated market influence

Tesla

Tesla

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: Neutral

Tesla Superchargers had the least number of problems (4%) among all charging networks mentioned in the article.

Rivian

Rivian

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: Neutral

Rivian’s Adventure Network also had a low problem rate (5%), indicating reliability and effectiveness.

Context

Business Insights and Market Implications Analysis

Key Findings from Consumer Reports Survey

  • Problem Frequency: 1 out of every 5 public charging sessions experiences issues.
  • Network Performance:
    • Tesla Superchargers: 4% problems (lowest).
    • Rivian Adventure Network: 5% problems.
    • Shell Recharge: 48% problems (highest).
    • EVgo: 43% problems.
    • Blink: 41% problems.

Charging Issues Breakdown

  • Hardware Problems:
    • Screen issues: 76% of hardware-related problems.
    • Charger connectivity: 9% (plug broken, ice-blocked).
    • Cable issues: 5% (too short or physically broken).
  • Payment Problems:
    • Charging did not start after payment: 19%.
    • Payment failure: 25% (forced to find alternative chargers).
    • Post-payment issues: 56%.

Market Trends and Business Impact

  • Consumer Trust: Networks with lower problem rates (e.g., Tesla, Rivian) build stronger consumer trust.
  • Competitive Dynamics:
    • Traditional networks (Shell, EVgo, Blink) face higher failure rates, risking customer satisfaction.
    • Newer networks (Tesla, Rivian) are outperforming traditional players.
  • Investment Opportunities: Charging infrastructure improvement is critical for market expansion.

Strategic Considerations

  • Hardware Reliability: Focus on improving screen interfaces and connectivity to reduce hardware failures.
  • Payment Systems: Enhance payment reliability to avoid customer frustration and loss.
  • Customer Experience: Implement real-time monitoring and faster charging solutions to differentiate services.

Long-Term Effects and Regulatory Impacts

  • Regulatory Pressure: Potential for increased scrutiny on charging network reliability and standardization.
  • Consumer Behavior: Risk of reduced EV adoption if charging issues persist.
  • Technological Advancements: Demand for smarter, more reliable charging systems.

Consumer Insights

  • Best Practices:
    • Multiple accounts for different networks.
    • Preconditioning vehicles while charging.
    • Home chargers for guaranteed power.
  • Range Anxiety Mitigation: EVs with 300+ mile range reduce charging frequency concerns.

Industry Implications

  • Shift to Private Networks: Higher reliability of Tesla and Rivian networks may drive consumer preference.
  • Partnerships and Innovations: Collaboration between charging providers and technology firms could enhance infrastructure quality.