Posted on June 29, 2023
In a recent E-Vision Intelligence Report by J.D. Power, Tesla's electric vehicle (EV) charging network has been hailed as significantly more reliable compared to its competitors.
The report indicated that approximately 21.6% of EV drivers who utilized non-Tesla public charging ports during the first quarter of 2023 were unable to charge their vehicles. In contrast, only 3.9% of Tesla drivers faced a similar issue while using the Tesla Supercharger network.
"No other provider is even close to Tesla when it comes to reliability," the report highlighted.
Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) is steadily becoming an industry standard in North America, with automakers like Ford, General Motors, Rivian, and Volvo agreeing to incorporate NACS charging sockets into their EVs over the coming years. Furthermore, manufacturers like Stellantis and Hyundai are reportedly contemplating similar deals.
The Supercharger network's superior reliability can be attributed to its vertical integration, enabling Tesla to control and test the compatibility between vehicle hardware/software and Supercharger hardware/software, according to Elizabeth Krear, Vice President for EV Practice at J.D. Power.
On the other hand, non-proprietary networks have horizontal integration, adding complexity due to their reliance on coordination and maintenance by several stakeholders, from charge point operators to host sites.
The J.D. Power study also highlighted that customer satisfaction was highest among Tesla vehicle owners, with Tesla scoring 734 on a 1,000-point scale, far outperforming the average score of 558 for other manufacturers.
As it stands, Tesla's Supercharger network, with its 19,500 ports, is the largest EV charging network in the U.S. Non-proprietary networks using the Combined Charging System (CCS) have roughly 11,500 fast chargers.
The White House announced on June 9th that NACS charging stations would be eligible for federal subsidies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, provided they also include a CCS connection.
Addressing charging-related issues is a critical part of transitioning to electric vehicles, as highlighted by the J.D. Power report.
"Lack of public charging infrastructure has been the top consumer barrier to EV adoption for the past 12 months, followed by related issues involving range anxiety, time required to charge, and inability to charge at home or work," J.D. Power stated.
In light of these findings, the adoption of the NACS by non-Tesla manufacturers could significantly improve the overall charging experience and reliability, driving further the transition to EVs.
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