Owners of electric vehicles give high marks to “next level” home chargers, according to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Home Charging Study, with Tesla taking home top honors for the second consecutive year.
The study evaluates EV owner satisfaction in three segments, including Level 1 portable, Level 2 portable and Level 2 permanently mounted charging stations. However, only Level 2 permanently mounted charging station owners are award eligible. Satisfaction is measured across eight key elements: fairness of retail price, cord length, size of charger, ease of winding & storing cable, charging cost, charging speed, ease of use and reliability. All combined, these elements present a concise picture of owner experience, as well as charger performance.
“Home charging is an important aspect of owning an EV and taking that to the next level by utilizing a Level 2 charger is key to optimizing the ownership experience,” said Brent Gruber, senior director of global automotive at J.D. Power. “When upgrading to Level 2 charging, some home electrical upgrades may be necessary. Making those changes will mean faster charging and result in a far more satisfactory EV ownership experience. With battery ranges increasing, it makes sense for many owners to make the upgrade if they haven’t already. All parties involved in the EV marketplace need to pay special attention to home charging since 84% of owners regularly charge at home.”
Study results indicate that charging performance greatly impacts overall satisfaction, with speed of charging serving as a critical component. Satisfaction with the cost of level 2 charging is driven by regional energy costs. Here, the Mountain region reflects the highest level of satisfaction, while New England reflects the lowest.
One of the new metrics included in the study this year, pre-conditioning a vehicle prior to charging by warming or cooling it, appears to positively impact satisfaction scores among owners of both Level 2 portable and Level 2 permanently mounted chargers.
Of course, improving to a Level 2 system does require owners make certain home modifications, with the most common being upgrades to wiring, outlets and electrical panels. And while the cost of these modifications might be mitigated somewhat by utilizing various utility programs, nearly half of Level 2 owners are unaware of financial incentives and other options made available by local utilities. “We’re on the verge of EVs approaching mainstream owners who are price conscious,” Gruber said. “The industry needs to be sensitive to the incentives beyond the purchase of the vehicle—and making sure owners are aware of them.”
