JD Power study shows public EV charging satisfaction up 12 points as OEM networks launch
By Eve
JD Power's 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study found customer satisfaction with DC fast chargers rose 12 points year on year to 666 on a 1,000 point scale, with charger availability improving by 27 points, location safety by 18 points and cost of charging by 18 points. The public charging non charge visit rate fell to 12%, down from 14% a year earlier and the lowest level recorded in the study. Three new OEM backed DC fast charging networks, including IONNA, which ranked highest among DC fast charger stations in its first year of award eligibility, have recently launched and performed well on ease of charging, charging speed and charger availability.
Why it matters: The 27 point jump in charger availability and record low failure rate signal that network reliability is finally catching up with deployment pace, reducing a key barrier to fleet electrification. The strong debut of OEM backed networks suggests vertically integrated charging models may set new operational benchmarks that independent CPOs will need to match to compete for site partnerships and driver loyalty.