Factors Leading to the Malfunction of EV Charging Stations
The global shift towards sustainable energy has positioned electric vehicles (EVs) at the forefront of this movement. As more consumers choose EVs over gasoline-powered cars, there’s a growing concern about the reliability of their charging stations. With its dependable and user-friendly Superchargers, Tesla stands out in this domain, giving it a competitive advantage and boosting its sales. In contrast, many owners of non-Tesla electric cars find it challenging to navigate the diverse charging stations available, each with its distinct operations and pricing.
Charging Hurdles Overshadow EV Capabilities
Car experts say people are often more concerned about how efficiently electric cars charge than the distance they can travel on a single charge. Public chargers usually do their job. However, for electric cars to become more popular, these chargers must be as reliable as gas stations, if not more so. The focus isn’t just on the performance of electric cars but also on the quality of their charging infrastructure.
According to a J.D. Power study, nearly 21% of electric car users faced difficulties charging at public stations. Additionally, a study in San Francisco discovered that about one in four charging stations had issues, including malfunctioning screens or payment problems.
A recent study explains why specific public chargers for electric cars fail. It’s included in a more extensive report, “Electrification 2030,” released in September. This report discusses what electric car use and home electricity might look like by 2030.
The Issues with Some EV Chargers
From this year’s data, the primary causes of electric vehicle (EV) charger malfunctions are:
- Connection Problems: Over half the time, charging stations struggle to link with their primary system to determine if they can charge the car. Similar to how our phones can lose connection, these stations experience this due to their reliance on cellular signals.
- Station Errors: The station’s systems can malfunction. Some chargers might stop working and display computer code. Since various stations have unique issues, there isn’t a single fix.
- Other Issues: Other reasons are less significant, including the credit card readers that Elon Musk often criticizes. The head of Tesla declined public money to grow the Supercharger stations because of rules saying chargers need payment options besides phone apps.
Data Transparency Required
Auto experts say EV charging companies sometimes aren’t clear about their stations’ trustworthiness, even if they say “97% uptime.” A station answering a computer’s test doesn’t guarantee charging a car or handling payments right.
California wants to improve this situation. They’ve introduced a law [AB 2061 of 2022] that asks these companies to maintain and share detailed records. The California Energy Commission (CEC) will provide more specific guidelines next year. States that adopt California’s environmental rules might adopt these guidelines, too.
Several car brands are taking action. In May, Ford announced its EVs could use Tesla’s well-known charging stations and adopt Tesla’s charging connector. GM made a similar announcement soon after, and many other brands followed their lead. By July, seven car brands teamed up to create a network of over 30,000 quick-charging stations to enhance the charging experience for drivers.
However, just being aware of the issues isn’t enough. These charging companies must improve station maintenance, address problems quickly, and aim to match the reliability of Tesla’s renowned charging stations.
The video below discusses the challenges associated with electric vehicle charging stations.
California Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury attorney. Sustaining injuries from an accident can have enduring consequences. Should you or a family member experience injury in a car accident caused by another driver’s carelessness, please contact our legal team at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. Our law firm has assisted individuals in achieving just outcomes in accident and wrongful death claims since 1982. See our Verdicts and Settlements.
Photo by Michael Fousert on Unsplash
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