For years, owners of non-Tesla electric vehicles have felt like second-class citizens when it came to public charging. They’ve wandered through desolate parking lots searching for functional chargers, often ending in frustrating calls to help centers. According to J.D. Power, this has contributed to public charging issues and long fueling times being the top reasons consumers reject electric vehicles.
However, the landscape is changing. Automakers and charging companies are making significant improvements to public charging infrastructure. They’re building more stations, updating their technology for better reliability and faster charging, and adding amenities like food services and restrooms. The industry is also designing newer electric vehicles to charge at remarkable speeds, comparable to Usain Bolt’s record-breaking sprints.
A major breakthrough has been automakers partnering with Tesla to allow non-Tesla vehicles access to its extensive and reliable Supercharger network. This move has significantly expanded fast-charging options for all EV owners.
Early results from these efforts are promising. J.D. Power surveys show that the failure rate for public charging attempts dropped from about 20% in recent years to 16% in the first quarter of 2025 – the largest improvement since their surveys began in 2021. “The industry is finally elevating as a whole,” noted Brent Gruber, executive director at J.D. Power.
The number of fast chargers in the U.S. has also seen a substantial increase, growing from 42,200 in May of the previous year to about 55,200 by May 2025, according to federal data. These improvements are crucial steps toward making electric vehicles more appealing to a broader audience by addressing two of their biggest drawbacks: charging reliability and time.
