Electric vehicle owners ignore charging savings

JD Power research reveals that only 12% of EV owners use smart charging, missing out on savings of up to $73 per year. Discover more trends.
Research firm JD Power conducted a survey of electric vehicle owners and discovered a surprising trend: Many are ignoring vehicles that can significantly reduce charging costs. According to the research, only 12% of the participants regularly use smart charging systems, which are automatically activated during times of low power outage, such as at night. Although almost all EV owners are aware of these features, most choose not to use them. About a third of respondents sometimes charge off-peak hours when prices are lower; It’s a strategy that can save you up to $73 a year. But a large group never plans their charging sessions, missing out on potential savings. In addition to asking about charging costs, JD Power also measured satisfaction with existing charging equipment. Satisfaction levels vary by charger type and region; Owners in areas where electricity is more expensive report greater dissatisfaction. The study found that those with more powerful Level 2 chargers were more satisfied with performance than those using Level 1 units, but Level 2 chargers were more likely to fail; this is a fact that researchers attribute to their greater sophistication. The brand of charger also influenced satisfaction: Tesla chargers received the highest score, followed by Emporia and ClipperCreek.

Automobile Magazine – Spain