Public fast charging is getting more reliable, and newer networks are setting the pace

For many EV owners, the worst part of the experience has been pulling up to a public charger that does not work. That is happening less often. In J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study, released Aug. 12, the share of visits in which an owner arrived at a public station and could not charge fell to 12% in the most recent quarter. That is the lowest rate in the study's history, down from 14% a year earlier.

Satisfaction with DC fast charging rose 12 points to 666 on a 1,000-point scale, with gains in all 10 factors the study measures. The largest improvement was in charger availability, up 27 points, followed by how safe owners feel at the location and the cost of charging, each up 18 points. The study is based on responses from 6,594 owners of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles collected from January through June 2026.

Automaker-backed networks lead

All three top-ranked networks are backed by automakers and were eligible for an award for the first time. IONNA is a joint venture whose founders include BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota. J.D. Power said the newer automaker-backed networks scored well above the segment average on ease of charging, charging speed and charger availability, in some cases by more than 100 points. It credited newer, higher-speed chargers, larger sites, locations with more amenities and easier payment for the overall improvement.

"JD Power data consistently shows that public charging is the top reason new-vehicle shoppers reject EVs," said Brent Gruber, executive director of EV solutions at J.D. Power.

IONNA said Sept. 30 that it had passed 180 live charging sites, more than double its count at the start of 2026, including more than 40 locations at Circle K stores. Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz have joined BMW and GM in offering IONNA charging discounts through their apps and Plug & Charge, and IONNA said Plug & Charge support for Toyota and Lexus drivers was expected in October. IONNA skipped a proprietary app; drivers can start sessions through 19 partner apps.

Fewer new ports, but bigger and faster sites

Construction has slowed even as quality improves. Charging data firm Paren counted 4,382 new public fast-charging ports at 806 new stations in the second quarter of 2026, 10% fewer ports than the 4,865 added a year earlier. First-half additions of 7,903 ports were 7.4% below the first half of 2025.

The new sites are larger and more powerful. Non-Tesla networks averaged 4.4 ports per new station in the second quarter, up from 3.6 a year earlier, and about 62% of their new ports were rated at 250 kW or more, up from 39%. Tesla still added the most ports, 1,185, or 27% of the quarter's total, but Paren said Tesla's share of all active fast-charging ports fell below 50% for the first time. Walmart, ChargePoint and Red E each added more than 300 ports.

The second-quarter buildout reached nearly every state. California led with roughly 120 new stations, followed by Texas, Florida, Illinois and New York, and about four in five new stations were in urban areas, where use runs highest. Usage is rising, too: Paren reported a 29% year-over-year increase in fast-charging sessions in June, although sessions per port and overall utilization were roughly flat.

Where the experience still falls short

Location matters. J.D. Power found fast-charger satisfaction was highest at hotels (692), gas stations and convenience stores (689) and restaurants (688), and lowest at stand-alone parking lots and garages (606) and dealerships (570). Slow charging speed remains the most common problem at both fast chargers and Level 2 stations. Satisfaction with public Level 2 charging fell 12 points to 595, driven by lower scores for ease of payment and ease of charging.

Plugs are another transition point. In Paren's quarterly report, analyst Loren McDonald wrote that nearly every new EV now comes with a NACS port, the connector Tesla developed, while much of the non-Tesla charging industry remains weighted toward CCS plugs.

What it means for drivers

On a road trip, the odds of finding a working fast charger are better than a year ago, especially at newer sites with more stalls and amenities nearby. Check a station's recent reliability in your charging app before relying on it, and know your adapter situation: newer NACS-equipped models may need an adapter at older CCS-only sites, and CCS-equipped models need both an adapter and automaker-approved access to use Tesla Superchargers.