EV Owners Are Now Less Worried About Charge Times

Long charging times and a lack of public chargers are frequently cited as obstructions to widespread EV adoption. However, a survey of U.S. consumers conducted by Deloitte suggests a change in attitude.

The study included 31,000 respondents from 30 countries. It indicated a softening of attitude amongst U.S. consumers. Many seemed unfazed by ever-hastening EV charging times. Over three-quarters of Americans said they were willing to wait up to 40 minutes to charge their car from zero to 80 per cent. That’s within the fast-charging envelope of many current EVs.

Lots felt that fast-charging time was the most important part of the EV charging experience. However, most were fine with waiting 21-40 minutes for a charge. Almost half of respondents said they preferred a dedicated EV charging station over a gas station with chargers. 

The study also indicated that many EV drivers do not make use of fast-charging services. Nearly 80 per cent of Americans intending to buy an EV said they would charge at home. Most other studies have produced similar results. However, nearly 60 per cent of the cohort said they do not currently have access to a charger. 

Over one-third of the Americans surveyed said they drive more than 100km from their home only once or twice per month. Almost one-quarter said they never venture that far from home.

Just one year ago, a survey by the same firm concluded that EV charge times and cost could be holding back EV shoppers. Two years earlier, another Deloitte study found that the majority of Americans didn’t want an EV because of range and cost concerns. This new study suggests driving range and charge times for EV owners are less of an issue than previously. 

Going by the latest survey results, EVs are set to exceed consumer expectations on charging ability. The list of vehicles with ultra-fast road-trip charge times is growing. Several companies, Toyota amongst them, indicate that 10-minute charge times may be just around the corner when the firm introduces solid-state battery technology.