Displeasure Among EV Owners Due to Expensive Electricity Costs for Vehicle Charging
The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is underway, but a recent study by J.D. Power reveals that satisfaction with home charging is on the decline, particularly for Level 2 portable and permanently mounted chargers. This trend is attributed to a variety of systemic issues within the EV charging ecosystem.
For the fifth consecutive year, Tesla ranked highest among Level 2 permanently mounted charging stations, with a score of 776. Emporia followed closely at 763, while Wallbox secured third place with 756. However, these high scores mask a broader trend of declining satisfaction across the industry.
One of the main reasons for this decline is the emergence of quality and reliability issues as the industry has rapidly expanded. The study highlights four key areas of concern: fragmented networks and user experiences, neglected maintenance and hardware reliability, complexity of charging sessions, and cost-driven hardware choices.
The presence of multiple charging networks in the U.S., each with different apps and payment systems, complicates the user experience and contributes to dissatisfaction. Early deployments of chargers often lacked long-term maintenance plans, leading to hardware failures and degraded reliability over time. Charging involves many interconnected components, and failures in any part can cause failed charging attempts, frustrating users. Some early suppliers prioritized low-cost hardware to rapidly increase deployment, which has led to premature device failures.
These factors collectively contribute to one in five charging attempts failing, as reported in related studies, damaging the overall reputation and satisfaction with home charging equipment, especially for Level 2 chargers which are most commonly used at home.
Despite these challenges, home charging remains a reliable advantage for EV owners. However, concerns about charging speeds, cord length, and rising electricity costs are affecting overall satisfaction. The study found that satisfaction with the cost of charging dropped 8 points to 698.
The 2025 study reflects responses from 10,472 owners of 2019-2025 model-year BEVs and PHEVs, collected between November 2024 and January 2025. The study evaluates the home charging experience for EV owners across all three charging segments: Level 1 portable chargers, Level 2 portable chargers, and Level 2 permanently mounted chargers.
The study is conducted in collaboration with PlugShare, a leading EV driver app and research firm. The study serves as the industry benchmark for measuring satisfaction with key attributes that define the overall EV home charging experience for both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
As the EV industry continues to grow, addressing these systemic issues will be crucial to ensuring that home charging remains a positive experience for EV owners. Improving reliability, simplifying user experiences, and investing in long-term maintenance plans will be key to regaining the trust and satisfaction of EV owners.
[1] J.D. Power (2025). U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Home Charging Study. Retrieved from [www.jdpower.com/business/electric-vehicle-studies](http://www.jdpower.com/business/electric-vehicle-studies)
[2] Electrek (2025). J.D. Power study reveals declining satisfaction with home charging for electric vehicle owners. Retrieved from [www.electrek.co/2025/02/10/jd-power-study-reveals-declining-satisfaction-home-charging-electric-vehicle-owners/](http://www.electrek.co/2025/02/10/jd-power-study-reveals-declining-satisfaction-home-charging-electric-vehicle-owners/)
- The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is underway, but a recent study by J.D. Power reveals that satisfaction with home charging is on the decline, particularly for Level 2 portable and permanently mounted chargers.
- Despite the high scores of Tesla, Emporia, and Wallbox in the Level 2 permanently mounted charging stations, the study points to a broader trend of declining satisfaction across the entire industry.
- The study highlights four key areas of concern: fragmented networks and user experiences, neglected maintenance and hardware reliability, complexity of charging sessions, and cost-driven hardware choices.
- The study's findings indicate that one in five charging attempts fails, which damages the overall reputation and satisfaction with home charging equipment, specifically for Level 2 chargers that are most commonly used at home.
