15 April 2021
Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England has revealed the results of its survey which invited electric vehicle (EV) drivers to share their views about their experience with public chargepoints, in response to the UK Government’s consultation on the ‘Consumer Experience at Public Electric Vehicle Chargepoints’.
Over 1,000 drivers participated in the survey in England, who highlighted widespread support for the rollout of contactless credit and debit card payments, being able to use one charge card (also known as an RFID card) or app across multiple charging network operators, and higher levels of reliability. The survey also highlighted the importance of the public charging network even to those with off-street parking, with 92% of electric vehicle drivers relying on the public charging network at least once a month.
Gill Nowell, media spokesperson and a Director at EVA England comments: “There are many benefits of making the electric switch, from the pleasure of driving to improving local air quality. With automotive manufacturers, fleets and businesses all now choosing to go electric, we need to improve the consumer experience at public chargepoints to take EV adoption mainstream.
“Based on the outputs of this survey, paving the road for the mass adoption of EVs looks like contactless card payments, roaming, consistent chargepoint reliability, simplified billing, and easy access to information about what chargers are where.
“We recognise that the pace of chargepoint deployment is increasing and that the infrastructure going in the ground today is greatly improved from that which was being installed even five years ago. However, we encourage Government to intervene now in order to ensure that all charging infrastructure is reliable, safe and user-friendly, across all driver groups.”
Based on the results of the survey, EVA England has made the following recommendations to Government:
EVA England is using the survey responses to make informed recommendations to Government and to industry. www.evaengland.org.uk
Ends
EVA England media contact
Gill Nowell, EVA England Board Member and Media Liaison
E: gill.nowell@evaengland.org.uk
Editors Notes
Additional background about the EVA England public charging survey
1,216 drivers completed the survey, which ran for three and a half weeks from 22 February 2021 to 19 March 2021. Of the 1,025 survey participants from England, 96% indicated they were drivers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with the remaining 4% indicating they were drivers of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).
Some key points from the survey responses are summarised as follows:
General satisfaction with public EV charging
Survey participants were asked to what extent they were satisfied with the current state of public charging infrastructure. The average satisfaction rating amongst drivers in England was 2.16 out of 5. Most drivers (43%) indicated that they were somewhat dissatisfied with public charging in England, with 24% indicating they were extremely dissatisfied. The intention of the satisfaction question was to establish a benchmark by which future improvements, and therefore future satisfaction, could be compared.
Making it easy to pay
A contactless credit or debit card was deemed to be the easiest method for accessing a chargepoint (with 46% of participants, or 472 drivers, selecting this method). Drivers would welcome, and acknowledge the need for, having the choice between a contactless credit or debit card, a universal RFID card and a smartphone app.
Roaming
87% of survey participants would welcome the ability to use one smartphone app across all public chargepoint networks, while a smaller percentage (71%) would welcome the ability to use one RFID card across all public chargepoint networks.
Opening up chargepoint data
Every driver who participated in the survey either used an app or website, or their vehicle’s satnav, to locate chargepoints. 83% of participants primarily use a website or app, while 17% indicated they primarily used their vehicle’s satnav. This data, however, is generally not real-time information, and 98% of respondents believed that having access to real-time data ahead of a charging event would save them time.
Reliability
99% of drivers believe that a reliability standard should be set. 86% of drivers have had to choose a different chargepoint than the one they originally intended to use due to reliability issues. 62% of drivers disagreed or strongly disagreed that public chargepoints are typically in good working order. Only 14% of survey participants felt that they found chargepoints in good working order.
Only 6% of drivers who use the public network have never had an issue with a charger. 66% of drivers have had to call a helpline at some point in the past 12 months. The most frequent comments on reliability and locations centred on the public charging network on motorways. EV charging along motorways therefore represents a significant area in which improvements can and should be made.
Lack of available chargepoints
Survey respondents frequently commented on the topic of ‘ICE-ing’, i.e., when a chargepoint is blocked by a petrol or diesel vehicle. Comments suggested the need for penalties for blocking a chargepoint, or better enforcement of existing penalties, to better ensure reliable access to a chargepoint.
Signage
Drivers perceived a lack of signage along motorways, at motorway service areas, on A-roads and at destinations that let them know the location of a public chargepoint; 72% felt there was not enough clear signage along motorways, and 65% felt there was not enough signage in motorway service areas.
More respondents (87%), however, indicated that signage along A-roads is lacking and an area in which improvements should be made. Only 3% agreed or strongly agreed that there is sufficient clear signage along A-roads, with 28% disagreeing and 59% strongly disagreeing.
Most people (74%) disagreed or strongly disagreed that there is clear signage at destinations (such as supermarkets or leisure centres) indicating the location of a public chargepoint.
For a copy of the full report please contact EVA England (info@evaengland.org.uk).
About Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England
Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England was established in June 2020 to offer a voice, services and representation to current and prospective electric vehicle drivers in England. EVA England is a non-profit community interest company founded by passionate drivers inspired by the benefits of electric driving and concerned by the health and climate impacts of the use of petrol and diesel cars and vans.