I visited over 120 EV chargers: why so many were broken
Widespread failures at public EV charging stations are undermining confidence in electric cars, with users reporting that roughly a quarter of fast chargers they visit are out of order and many more have broken payment systems or app-only access. Commenters contrast this with Tesla’s vertically integrated Supercharger network, which is seen as far more reliable but raises concerns about de facto dependence on a single company and proprietary standard. Underlying causes cited include fragmented hardware vendors, weak maintenance incentives, subsidy structures that reward installation over uptime, and the absence—so far—of strong regulatory requirements for reliability and open, card-based payments.
Tesla vs. Other Charging Networks
- Many commenters report near-perfect reliability with Tesla Superchargers versus frequent failures at CCS/CHAdeMO networks (Electrify America, EVgo, etc.).
- Outside North America (e.g., Europe, Hong Kong), non-Tesla networks are described as much better, making Tesla less dominant.
- Some see Tesla’s vertically integrated approach (own hardware, software, billing, monitoring) as the core advantage.
- Others worry about dependence on a single company and CEO behavior, viewing “Tesla as the only working option” as a systemic risk.
Reliability, Maintenance, and Incentives
- Reported failure modes: out-of-order stalls, handshake errors, throttled power, dead UIs, broken payment systems.
- Sites often mix multiple hardware vendors, making parts, diagnostics, and repair logistics harder; some early deployments are effectively bespoke.
- Lack of on-site staff and remote locations mean vandalism or failures can persist for months.
- Several note perverse incentives: grants/subsidies for installation but not maintenance; some operators appear focused on “being first” and capturing subsidies rather than long-term reliability.
- In contrast, gas stations profit from selling fuel and store goods, giving them strong incentives to keep pumps working.
Payment and User Experience
- Common complaints: multiple proprietary apps, account setup before charging, session fees, poor app quality, and unreliable card readers.
- Tesla’s “plug in and it bills your account” is held up as the UX benchmark.
- Some public chargers already support tap-to-pay or RFID, but coverage and reliability are inconsistent.
Home vs. Public Charging
- Many EV owners charge mostly at home (often 80%+ of energy), finding costs low and reliability high.
- Public fast charging is seen as the main problem for road trips, rentals, and people without home charging (especially apartment dwellers).
- Several users say they’d only consider EVs as a second/local car until public fast-charging improves; hybrids remain popular.
Standards, Policy, and Future Direction
- NACS (Tesla-style plug with CCS signaling) is being widely adopted in North America; adapters will allow many existing CCS cars to use Tesla sites.
- Some view this as welcome standardization and competition; others see it deepening dependence on Tesla.
- New U.S. NEVI rules will require open protocols (OCPP/OCPI), real-time status, uptime targets, and high-power DC capabilities; many expect this to force weaker networks to improve or exit.