EV charging firm Petalite has revealed that drivers remain frustrated with queuing for chargers in a new report on the EV charging sector.
The whitepaper, called EV Charging: The Balancing Act, combines in-depth interviews with leading UK rapid/ultra rapid Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and a national survey of 700 EV drivers.
It discovered that 54% of EV drivers reported queuing occasionally or very often for a rapid charger, while 48% occasionally or very often encounter out-of-service units.
Affordability is also a persistent pain point, with 40% naming high charging prices as their number one frustration. In addition, 68% of drivers preferred to wait for faster charging rather than use a slower charger immediately.
It also showed that drivers’ loyalty to charging networks is shaped not by brand, but by performance. The top three most important factors for drivers when it comes to their favourite Charge Point Operator are: charging speed (62%), reliability (56%) and ease of use (56%) – which all directly relate to the network’s hardware selection.
Energy-based utilisation was also seen as key to profitability with 63% of CPOs identifying energy-based utilisation as their top measure of site performance.
Operators are moving beyond the “build it and they will come” phase of expansion, and are now focusing instead on energy-based utilisation, reliability, and profitability, it found.
The report also highlights that the UK’s growing diversity of electric vehicles will intensify these challenges. With a wider range of battery sizes and charging capabilities entering the market – from smaller EVs limited to 50kW to new models capable of 400kW or more – CPOs must design sites and select hardware that can serve this evolving mix efficiently, it said.
Steven Gardener, CEO of Petalite, said:
“This research shows an industry at an inflection point. The UK’s charging rollout is no longer a numbers game. Success will be defined by utilisation, reliability, and the ability to deliver a seamless charging experience. Drivers judge networks by what happens at the charger itself, and every successful session builds trust and loyalty, while every failed one erodes it.”
“The key takeaway from this research is that charging networks are evolving and the high-performing networks in the future will be smarter – not just larger. Using next-generation charging technology will be key in delivering charging as quickly as possible to drivers and maximising energy utilisation for operators.
“By focusing on high quality site selection, reliability and future-proof technology, operators will improve the driver experience, win driver loyalty and strengthen site economics. The networks that succeed will be those that think ahead and build for the vehicles and expectations of tomorrow, not just the demands of today.”
Image of report from Petalite
