JD Power Study Finds Public EV Charging Experience Is Improving as OEM-Backed Networks Expand
Customer satisfaction with DC fast chargers rose 12 points to 666 in the 2026 study, while charging failures hit a record low.
JD Power's 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Public Charging Study found that customer satisfaction with public EV charging has improved, driven by gains in charger availability, location safety and cost of charging.
What Happened
The study measured EV owner satisfaction with public charging on a 1,000-point scale. Customer satisfaction with DC fast chargers increased 12 points compared to last year, reaching 666. All 10 factors tracked in the study showed improvement. Charger availability saw the largest gain at 27 points, followed by location safety and cost of charging, both up 18 points. The public charging non-charge visit rate fell to 12%, down from 14% a year ago—the lowest level ever recorded in the study. Three new OEM-backed DC fast charging networks have recently entered the market, and all three performed well in the survey. IONNA ranked highest among DC fast charger stations in its first year of award eligibility.
Why It Matters
Reliability has been a persistent concern for EV owners relying on public infrastructure. The decline in charging failures to a record low suggests that recent investments by automakers and charging operators are beginning to address longstanding pain points. Site location also plays a significant role in satisfaction—hotels, gas stations and restaurants scored highest, while dealership locations scored notably lower at 570 compared to the top-performing hotel sites at 692.
The Bottom Line
The data indicates measurable progress in the public EV charging experience, though industry-wide satisfaction scores remain moderate. The entry of OEM-backed networks and declining failure rates suggest infrastructure quality is trending in the right direction for drivers.
