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Wards Staff
February 24, 2022
2 Min Read
Satisfaction with charging improves, but only with Level 2.Alamy
J.D. Power says U.S. battery-electric-vehicle owners who have installed 220V Level 2 home chargers largely are happy with charging performance, though there are some disparities in how consumers in various regions rate their satisfaction with charging costs.
To no surprise, BEV charging satisfaction is higher for owners of Level 2 chargers than those who rely on more sluggish Level 1 systems that plug into conventional 110V power sources.
The researcher says those surveyed scored their satisfaction of Level 2 home charging at 752 points out of 1,000, compared with a 564 rating for those using Level 1 technology. The Level 2 rating is up 11 points from a year ago. Satisfaction in Level 1 charging declined 10 points.
“With battery ranges increasing, it makes sense for many owners to make the upgrade (to a Level 2 home charger) if they haven’t already,” says Brent Gruber, senior director of global automotive at J.D. Power. “All parties involved in the EV marketplace need to pay special attention to home charging since 84% of owners regularly charge at home.”
Among other findings in the study:
Satisfaction with charging speed is rated at 687 by those with Level 2 charging, compared with 326 for those relying on Level 1 systems.
Among owners with Level 2 chargers, satisfaction on the cost of charging is highest in the Mountain region (794) and lowest in New England (632). The Pacific (719) ranks just ahead of New England, with California the state with the lowest satisfaction score in that region.
Seventy-five percent of Level 2 owners surveyed report that they had to invest in at least one component upgrade to complete their home installation, adding to the cost. The most common requirement was new wiring (55%), followed by a new outlet (45%) and a full new electrical panel (28%).
There are subsidies available to help owners upgrade to Level 2 charging, but only 40% of those surveyed with Level 1 home charging and 52% of those with Level 2 charging report being aware of any financial incentives or assistance being offered in their area. “We’re on the verge of EVs approaching mainstream owners who are price conscious,” Gruber says. “The industry needs to be sensitive to the incentives beyond the purchase of the vehicle—and making sure owners are aware of them.”
New to the study this year, J.D. Power asked those surveyed whether they preconditioned their vehicle – either warming or cooling it prior to getting in and driving. Satisfaction scores were higher from those who do so (794), compared with those who say they never precondition (753).
Among various home chargers, Tesla’s ranks the highest (797) in satisfaction, followed by ClipperCreek chargers, J.D. Power says.
The study, conducted with PlugShare, an EV driver app maker and research firm, surveyed 8,216 owners of ʼ16-ʼ22 model BEVs and PHEVs in October-November 2021.
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