
By Sean Tully, Eversource
One of the biggest obstacles to electric vehicle (EV) adoption has been convincing consumers that they will have ready access to charging options. The process of refueling a gasoline vehicle is so engrained in consumer behavior, many drivers don’t have confidence in the ability to conveniently charge their vehicle when they’re on the go, and this is a major barrier impeding many from switching to an electric vehicle.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has recently finalized new standards to make EV charging more convenient and reliable, and provided billions of dollars in funding for EV chargers. Many states, including Connecticut and Massachusetts, are now offering funding for the purchase and installation of EV chargers. However, no directives or infrastructure will address the needs of EV owners if charging stations are offline, malfunctioning, or mislead customers on their charging speed.
The reality is that the charging network of today is not meeting consumer expectations. A recent study conducted by the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) revealed that, in the San Francisco Bay area, only 72.5% of chargers were functional, despite claims of 95-98% uptime from charging providers. Problems included a cable too short to reach the EV inlet, unresponsive or unavailable screens, payment system failures, charge initiation failures, network failures and broken connectors. A second evaluation conducted eight days later revealed no improvement.
Additional evidence of user frustration comes from J.D. Power, which found in a study of high-volume markets that customer satisfaction with public Level 2 charging has declined from last year. The study found that one of five respondents was unable to charge their EV, primarily because of malfunctioning or out-of-service chargers.
Reduced availability of charging stations is problematic for drivers, first and foremost. But the issue also impedes the ability of EV manufacturers to market their cars. As a result, the transition to EVs is delayed, and with it, the ability for our communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Charging Challenges
There are four main reasons why chargers may become unavailable:
- Network or software issues – the charger works, but software issues prevent users from completing their transactions
- Point of sale (POS) issues – telecommunications issues prevent payment for charging
- App inaccuracies – apps that help drivers locate a nearby charger often display incorrect information, such as the charging speed or whether charging points are working
- Vandalism – graffiti or broken equipment can impede motorists’ ability to see the information screen, an issue not commonly picked up by remote monitoring
While some charger issues can be resolved remotely, others cannot. Either way, it takes time for providers to address them.
Another challenge is a result of the current arrangement under which many charging stations are set up. Charging infrastructure providers like ChargePoint, Electrify America and EVgo lease space from business owners, such as Home Depot or Target, to place their charging stations. Yet neither the providers nor the site hosts are taking responsibility for maintaining this equipment.
Emerging Solutions
At this point, three promising solutions are arising:
- New national standards for the operation and maintenance of chargers
- The expansion of Reliability-as-a-Service
- Greater ownership by property managers
“Until now,” states a recent Powergrid International article, “there were no comprehensive standards for the installation, operation, or maintenance of EV charging stations.” The standards will ensure consistent plug types, power levels, minimum number of chargers, and a 97% uptime requirement, as well as publicly accessible data on locations and availability, and compatibility.
A new type of service, known as Reliability as a Service, is also emerging in which third parties provide regular charging station inspections, perform basic maintenance, and alert operators to additional service needs, all for a monthly fee. Such services increase the availability and utilization of charging points.
Another factor that may contribute to increased uptime is greater management of the charging infrastructure from entities that lease space for charging points. While some of these entities, like retailers and municipalities, are hesitant to become “gas stations of the future,” a hands-off approach won’t work well in more densely populated areas where people do not have a garage or driveway at which to install their own chargers.
Although some positive strides are being made to offer drivers reliable charging, there’s still more work to be done. The investment and support from the federal government shows promise in encouraging the implementation of some of these solutions. In the end, ensuring a positive overall experience for electric vehicle drivers will spark faster adoption and consequently a greater reduction in carbon emissions from transportation.
About the Author
Sean Tully is a Manager of Electric Mobility at Eversource. For the past five years, he has implemented the Company’s EV Make Ready Program for Massachusetts businesses, which has expanded in scope in the last two years to include rebates for Massachusetts residents and Connecticut residents and businesses. Previous to this role, Sean was primarily responsible for providing consulting services and Utility Energy Service Contracts under Eversource’s GSA Area Wide Contract.