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What are the biggest EV charging infrastructure issues you've experienced?
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I've been driving electric for about 3 years now and while I love my EV, the charging infrastructure issues are really starting to get to me. The biggest problem I keep running into is inconsistent charging speeds at public stations. Sometimes I'll pull up to a station that's supposed to be fast charging and it's barely delivering half the advertised speed.
Another major issue is station reliability. I can't tell you how many times I've planned a trip around charging stops only to find stations out of order or with broken connectors. The apps don't always have accurate real-time status updates either.
What charging infrastructure issues have you all dealt with? Are there particular networks or locations that seem worse than others?
You're absolutely right about the charging infrastructure issues. From my professional experience working with charging networks, the reliability problem is even worse than most users realize.
The biggest issue I see is maintenance neglect. Companies install these expensive charging stations but then don't budget properly for ongoing maintenance. A station goes down and it might take weeks to get fixed because there aren't enough trained technicians in the area.
Also, the payment systems are a mess. Different networks require different apps, different memberships, and sometimes the credit card readers just don't work. I've seen stations that are technically functional but nobody can use them because the payment system is broken.
I don't drive an EV myself but I work on them, and my customers complain about charging infrastructure issues constantly. The winter performance is a huge problem that doesn't get talked about enough.
Cold weather absolutely destroys charging speeds. I've had customers tell me their 30 minute charge turns into 90 minutes when it's below freezing. The batteries need to warm up before they can accept a fast charge, and the stations don't always handle this well.
Also, the cable management at public stations is terrible. People just drop the heavy cables on the ground, they get run over, connectors get damaged... it's a maintenance nightmare.
This is exactly the kind of stuff I'm worried about as someone looking to buy their first EV. I live in an apartment building with no charging options, so I'd be completely dependent on public charging infrastructure.
Reading about these issues makes me wonder if I should wait a few more years until the infrastructure improves. How do you all deal with the uncertainty? Do you just accept that sometimes you'll show up to a broken charger and have to find another one?
I've had my EV for about 6 months now and the charging infrastructure issues are real but manageable. The key is planning ahead and having backup options.
I use multiple apps to check station status before I go, and I always have a plan B charger in mind. The worst experience I had was on a road trip where two consecutive stations were out of service. I had to drive 30 miles out of my way to find a working one, and I was getting pretty nervous about range at that point.
The good news is that new stations are being installed all the time. The network is definitely improving, just not as fast as EV sales are growing.
The payment system fragmentation is honestly the most annoying part of the charging infrastructure issues for me. I have like 5 different apps on my phone, each with their own balance or subscription.
Sometimes I'll pull up to a station and realize I don't have that particular app installed, or my account needs updating, or the app crashes. It's 2025, why can't we just tap a credit card like at a gas pump?
I've started carrying a little notebook in my car with login info for all the different networks because I can never remember which email I used for which service.
I think part of the charging infrastructure issues come from the fact that different manufacturers use different plug standards. My friend has a Tesla and the Supercharger network seems way more reliable than the CCS stations I use.
But then Tesla owners can't use many of the other networks without an adapter, and non-Tesla owners can't use Superchargers in most places. This fragmentation just makes everything worse for everyone.
We really need some standardization and better regulations about maintenance requirements for public charging stations.
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