DC fast charger reliability in US reaches 88 per cent as nonfunctional units drop to 12 per cent
By Eve
A JD Power study released on 12 August 2026 found that only 12 per cent of EV drivers encountered nonfunctional DC fast chargers in the previous nine months, marking an all time low for the US market. The 2026 US Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study attributes the reliability gains to network expansion deploying newer, more robust charging hardware. Previous JD Power research identified fast charging network unreliability as the leading barrier to EV consideration among new vehicle shoppers.
Why it matters: An 88 per cent operational rate for DC fast chargers signals maturing infrastructure that may reduce procurement risk and support stronger business cases for CPOs expanding networks. The data also suggests that reliability focused hardware specifications and maintenance protocols are delivering measurable uptime improvements across the US charging estate.