[Nai3t]

https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-electric-vehicle-experience-evx-home-charging-study

Wow, I didn't think I'd ever see a home charging owner satisfaction survey, especially one with negative marks!

This year's study measured home charger satisfaction for individual chargers in eight areas:​

• Fairness of retail price
  • Cord length
  • Size of charger
  • Ease of winding/storing cable
  • Cost of charging
  • Charging speed
  • Ease of use
  • Reliability

This takes in to account L1 and L2 users, and says generally 2022-2023 owners have lower satisfaction than 2021 and earlier owners. Perhaps as EV adoption broadens, early adopters are getting filtered out and there is a general notion that charging is "cheap?" Perhaps the inrush of smart EVSEs and their connectivity challenges is negatively encroaching on the simplicity of so called "dumb" plug-in-and-walk-away EVSEs? Thoughts? (I 💘 my no frills #4 ranked Clipper Creek.)

The big negative driver was local electricity rates, which vary wildly across the nation. For me in CA, still cheaper than gas! But I do wonder how many owners get knocked into the next rate bracket, or look at the increased bottom line of the utility bill and chalk any and all price increases to the EV, and not to rising rates or other usage increases.

 

[Huey52]

Uh oh, @Spin isn't going to be happy with this one (JuiceBox well down on their list).

But then ChargePoint only ahead of same by a skoosh.

btw: I don't bother responding to their polls nor most anyone else's, and am likely not alone, so a grain of salt.

 

[Ev1st]

EA at the bottom. As a owner of EA charger no surprise here.

 

[LieutenantLefse]

"In other news, owner satisfaction with Calphalon frying pans is down 23% amid the rising cost of eggs."

 

[Spin]

Uh oh, @Spin isn't going to be happy with this one (JuiceBox well down on their list).

But then ChargePoint only ahead of same by a skoosh.

btw: I don't bother responding to their polls nor most anyone else's, and am likely not alone, so a grain of salt.

I'm happy! I'm sure there are many exceptional EVSEs out there. I can tell you my JuiceBox has been great!

 

[jatrax]

Perhaps as EV adoption broadens, early adopters are getting filtered out and there is a general notion that charging is "cheap?"

Not just cheap, as we move beyond early adopters we get more people who just expect an EV to work the same as their ICE vehicle. Early adopters (in any area) are willing to figure things out to get the job done, in fact often that is part of the attraction of new technology.

For someone used to knowing what the gas price is by seeing it on huge lighted signs on every corner electricity pricing is going to be confusing. It's X at home but Y on the road. Unless you have a plan then it's Z. Unless it's between midnight and 6am then it's Q. Or if you have a free charging benefit then it's free but only for 30 minutes if you're on the road. But still X or Q if you are at home.

The average person just wants reliable transportation and doesn't have the time or ability to figure out the current complexity of driving an EV. I believe we are going to see EV satisfaction go down dramatically in the next year or so. Then (hopefully) go back up as the infrastructure and standards improve.

 

[7S POWER]

https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-electric-vehicle-experience-evx-home-charging-study

Wow, I didn't think I'd ever see a home charging owner satisfaction survey, especially one with negative marks!

Thx for posting the survey.

 

[Nai3t]

The average person just wants reliable transportation and doesn't have the time or ability to figure out the current complexity of driving an EV.

That may be the case, and in fact I'm likely to agree with you in the broad sense – specifically given the number of obstacles that get cherry-picked by various media and highlighted in the news feed (talking misinformation stuff we routinely see in The Sun, NY Post, from certain YouTube creators, and a handful of "legit" but decidedly anti-EV outlets).

But we're talking home charging. I mean, shoot, I just can't fathom what's easier that pulling up at home and plugging in – for anybody blessed with that luxury. Obviously, those who can't charge at home aren't included in this survey. And even if EVSE installation is a drag or an added expense, it's one shot and it's done, bliss forever after.

Charging speed? Cost of electricity? Tsk tsk. Apps, too. I'm no technophobe, but was quite certain I didn't want another app or WiFi connection to dicker around with.

 

[DM_]

I feel like having a NEMA plug installed in the house would be more beneficial than hardwiring to a specific box because the plug allows for an easier change to a different EVSE manufacturer should problems arise. No?

Any major downside to a plug vs. hardwire? A plug can pull the same amps, yeah?

 

[SunWizard]

Any major downside to a plug vs. hardwire? A plug can pull the same amps, yeah?

A plug is limited to 40A and hardwire can do 48A. The other downside is a plug can get hot and melt as you see in some threads here, especially if its not a top quality (expensive) outlet. Another drawback is that any EVSE outlet is required by code to have a GFCI breaker which can lead to false trips, even though most EVSE also have a GFCI feature.

 

[DM_]

A plug is limited to 40A and hardwire can do 48A. The other downside is a plug can get hot and melt as you see in some threads here, especially if its not a top quality (expensive) outlet. Another drawback is that any EVSE outlet is required by code to have a GFCI breaker which can lead to false trips, even though most EVSE also have a GFCI feature.

Thanks! Good info!

 

[Nai3t]

Further I would argue that hardwiring is far simpler and not as permanent as it's made out to be.

Granted it's not in every home owner's repertoire, but it can be as simple as leaving the wires long and terminating then in the EVSE housing much like installing wire to a circuit breaker, or a little more complex using an expensive Polaris connector or inexpensive split nut to make the connection inside the wall outlet.