Given how long most EV owners need to charge their cars, is this even possible?
Well, well well, it appears that when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, the owners of these vehicles now want the same amenities drivers currently get at petrol stations, a new AutoPacific study found. However, given how different fuelling up and EV charging are, is this even possible?
The AutoPacific EV Consumer Insights Study asked over 7,200 “future EV acceptors,” defined by the consulting and market-research firm as “those who either intend to purchase or will consider purchasing an EV in the near future,” about their ideal charging experience.
Moreover, respondents pointed to petrol station features like windshield cleaner, air pumps for inflating tires, and vacuums as most-wanted features for charging stations, along with more charging-specific elements like clear signage for pricing and charging speed. It should also be noted that these respondents are from the U.S.
The study also found that EV acceptance is on the rise, with the share of respondents intending to purchase an EV up from 11 percent there in 2022 to 17 percent in 2023. Another 58 percent of respondents said they would consider purchasing one in the near future. These numbers are much higher than the numbers here in Malaysia.
On top of that, whether it’s current owners or those mulling an EV purchase, most respondents agreed that charging stations should offer similar amenities to gas stations. Given that most EVs take so long to charge compared to the less than 5 minutes it takes to fuel up at a petrol station, this makes sense.
AutoPacific president Ed Kim said in a statement, “Allowing EV owners to have a public charging experience similar to what they’re used to with traditional fueling is certainly beneficial to increasing EV acceptance.”
This also indicates some of the alternative charging station designs, such as ones co-located with Waffle House restaurants, or Electrify America’s new template for urban charging, might not be ideal after all. These locations offer amenities, but not typical petrol station features like vacuums and the like.
What’s more, this is quite different from most current charging stations. Tesla Superchargers, for example, don’t offer perks like tire pressure, vacuums, or car washes. But with a new network, Ionna, just taking form with backing from seven automakers, maybe it’s time to consider some new must-haves for charging.
We got all this from Green Car Reports and their full article is linked here. Thank you Green Car Reports for the information and images.
