Tesla’s Supercharger network is known as one of the best in the United States. People often connect it with Tesla cars, and it plays a big role in their decision to buy one. But recent research by J.D. Power suggests that while Tesla buyers still like the Supercharger network, their overall satisfaction is going down. This research also shows that other companies are catching up quickly, which could be a problem for Tesla, not just in terms of charging revenue but also in how people see the company.
Customers seem to be happier with non-Tesla charging networks like EVGo and Electrify America. However, Tesla buyers still really care about the Supercharger network. In fact, according to J.D. Power, the top five vehicles where charging mattered the most in the decision to buy were all Teslas. But even though Tesla buyers care a lot about the Supercharger network, their satisfaction with it is going down.
Some people might think that recent layoffs in Tesla’s Supercharger team caused this drop in satisfaction. But it’s more likely that other charging companies are just getting better. They’re investing more to improve the experience for customers, trying to compete with Tesla. Layoffs probably won’t help Tesla improve in this area in the future.
Although this news might not be great for Tesla, it’s good for electric vehicle adoption overall. People are becoming more satisfied with public DC fast charging. Satisfaction has gone up by 16 points since the end of last year, which is the biggest increase since J.D. Power started collecting data in 2021. This improvement is because charging is getting faster and more reliable.
Between the end of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, there was a 12 percent decrease in outages and malfunctions at charging stations. Electric vehicle owners also say that charging is easier now, and there are more charging stations available.
