This report should be a wake-up call to automakers financially, but from a consumer advocacy point of view, the situation is flat-out unacceptable. Generally speaking, brands are selling glossy words and images about the EV lifestyle, but the charging network isn’t ready, and it’s leading to terrible customer experiences.
Those automakers can tell us all they want that they are designing cars with home charging in mind, but then they advertise and send out press releases based on range, power, and performance. We’ve driven some amazing EVs now, but we’re always happy to give them back because the network is so bad that they become a pain when you need a public charger.
And you do need public chargers if you want to fully use these fantastic vehicles’ capabilities and abilities – whether that’s performance, utility, or road-trip comfort. GM, for example, can’t pretend the Hummer is for commuting and taking the kids to school. Ford and Chevy aren’t telling us the trucks are only for local work and towing, and Rivian happily shows its trucks and SUVs out exploring the wilderness. Kia recently showed us the capabilities of its EV6 GT on a track and drag strip, bragging about how it can keep up with supercars, but few people live next door to either.