Myth-busting EVs & charging ecosystems: 10 misconceptions holding teams back

Nearly 1 in 3 public EV charging attempts still fail despite improved uptime metrics, according to the 2025 ChargerHelp Reliability Report. This disconnect between infrastructure investment and user experience reveals why misconceptions about EV charging persist—and why teams building, deploying, or integrating charging solutions must separate fact from fiction to make sound decisions.

Why It Matters

The global EV charging station market is projected to reach $90.4 billion by 2032, growing at a 16.3% CAGR according to AnalystView Market Insights. Yet the gap between infrastructure deployment and actual user success rates threatens to undermine the entire transition to electric mobility. In Q2 2025, average U.S. fast charger utilization stood at just 16.1%—down slightly from 16.6% in Q4 2024—while dense urban markets like Las Vegas and Miami saw peak utilization approaching 40% (Paren State of Industry Report, Q2 2025).

For sustainability leads, fleet managers, and infrastructure planners, understanding the real dynamics of charging ecosystems is essential. The European Union alone generated 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2023, driving cross-sector pressure for electrification and sustainable logistics. Meanwhile, heat pump adoption and transit electrification efforts remain interconnected with EV infrastructure buildout, making accurate mental models critical for strategic planning.

Key Concepts

Myth 1: Charger Uptime Equals User Success

Reality: First-Time Charge Success Rate (FTCSR) tells a different story than uptime metrics. The 2025 Vecharged Reliability Report found that Tesla Superchargers achieved a 91.2 reliability score, while the national average FTCSR hovers between 85-86% for new stations—dropping below 70% for chargers more than three years old. Hardware issues account for 47% of all user complaints, including problems with screens, card readers, plugs, and adapters.

Myth 2: More Chargers Automatically Solve Range Anxiety

Reality: "Charger anxiety" has replaced range anxiety for many EV drivers. J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study recorded a 14% failed charging visit rate—an improvement from 19% in 2024 but still representing millions of frustrating experiences annually. Drivers now doubt reliability, speed, and availability more than raw charger counts.

Myth 3: Utilization Is Universally Low

Reality: Utilization varies dramatically by geography. Rural areas see <5% utilization while dense urban markets reach 25-40% during peak hours. This "charger divide" creates a strategic tension: charge point operators (CPOs) naturally focus on profitable urban deployments while underserved rural regions remain infrastructure deserts.

Myth 4: Demand Charges Are Manageable

Reality: Demand charges represent the single largest operating expense for many DC fast charging stations. A site with multiple 350kW chargers can face monthly demand charges exceeding the revenue generated, particularly during the early deployment phase when utilization is building. Smart load management, battery buffering, and time-of-use optimization are not optional—they are existential requirements.

Myth 5: All Networks Are Created Equal

Reality: Network interoperability remains fragmented despite industry standards like OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) and ISO 15118. Non-Tesla drivers using Superchargers report higher prices and poorer user experiences, contributing to Tesla's satisfaction score drop from 731 to 709 in 2025 (still the highest in the industry). Roaming agreements and plug-and-charge protocols vary widely across operators.

Myth 6: Higher Power Always Means Better

Reality: While 250+ kW chargers jumped from 24% to 38% of non-Tesla deployments in Q2 2025, higher power creates greater grid connection challenges. The Megawatt Charging System (MCS) enables up to 3.75 MW for heavy-duty vehicles, but grid upgrades can cost $2M+ per depot and connection wait times extend up to two years in constrained areas.

Myth 7: Europe Leads in Every Metric

Reality: While Europe has strong deployment numbers—the Netherlands with 180k, Germany with 160k, and France with 155k public chargers—China dominates globally with 85% of the world's fast chargers. The EU's 11 countries that saw >50% charging growth in 2024 still face the same reliability challenges as other markets.

Myth 8: Cost Concerns Are Secondary to Availability

Reality: J.D. Power's 2025 study revealed cost as the lowest-scoring factor at 430/1000 for DC fast charging. Charging prices have increased significantly, and satisfaction declined despite reliability improvements. The economic equation matters as much as the physical infrastructure.

Myth 9: Tesla's Lead Is Unassailable

Reality: "Charging 2.0" entrants including Mercedes, IONNA, and bp pulse are scaling aggressively with 350-400 kW chargers. Walmart's entry into charging represents a fundamental shift in retail-integrated infrastructure. Average ports per station rose to 5.4 in Q2 2025 from 4.7 in Q1 2025, with Tesla still averaging 15.1 ports per station but facing meaningful competition.

Myth 10: The Market Will Self-Correct

Reality: Federal intervention has been essential. The U.S. deployed over 40,000 new chargers in 2024, but 2025 projections were revised down from 160,000 to 120,000 new chargers. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and Charging & Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grants—totaling nearly $2 billion through January 2025—remain critical market shapers.

What's Working

What's Working

Larger, higher-power stations with professional maintenance are achieving the best outcomes. The correlation between newer hardware, enhanced cellular connectivity, and proactive maintenance shows in the Paren Reliability Index improvement from 81.2 in Q4 2024 to 85.5 in Q2 2025.

Tesla's Supercharger network continues setting the reliability benchmark. ChargePoint's partnership model and EVgo's dedicated reliability teams demonstrate that operational excellence requires ongoing investment beyond initial deployment.

India's PM E-DRIVE scheme allocated INR 20 billion for 40,000 new public chargers, representing emerging market recognition that government programs accelerate infrastructure buildout.

What Isn't Working

Aging infrastructure without maintenance investment sees FTCSR drop below 70% by year three. The assumption that deployment equals success has proven false repeatedly.

Rural deployment economics remain challenging. Without targeted subsidies or creative business models, CPOs cannot justify stations in low-utilization areas, perpetuating access inequities.

Fragmented payment systems frustrate drivers. Despite years of industry discussion, seamless cross-network payment remains elusive for many users.

Key Players

Established Leaders

• Tesla – Operates the most reliable and extensive Supercharger network globally with 15.1 average ports per station and 91.2 reliability scores
• ChargePoint – Leading networked charging provider with extensive commercial and residential solutions
• bp pulse – Scaling rapidly with high-power chargers across Europe and North America
• Shell Recharge – Integrating charging into existing retail footprint across multiple continents
• EVgo – Focused on DC fast charging with reliability-first operational approach

Emerging Startups

• Paren – EV charging data analytics platform providing utilization and reliability metrics
• ChargerHelp – Workforce development and maintenance platform improving field service operations
• Stable Auto – Demand charge optimization and load management software
• Ampcontrol – AI-powered charging optimization for fleets and commercial sites
• SparkCharge – Mobile charging solutions addressing infrastructure gaps

Key Investors & Funders

• U.S. Department of Energy – NEVI program and Charging & Fueling Infrastructure grants
• Breakthrough Energy Ventures – Bill Gates-backed fund investing in charging infrastructure
• BlackRock – Major institutional investor in charging network operators
• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – $7.5 billion allocated for EV charging
• European Investment Bank – Financing charging infrastructure across EU member states

Sector-Specific KPIs

KPI	Poor	Average	Excellent
First-Time Charge Success Rate	<70%	80-85%	>90%
Charger Utilization (Urban Peak)	<15%	20-30%	>35%
Uptime	<90%	95%	>98%
Demand Charge as % of Revenue	>50%	25-35%	<15%
Customer Satisfaction (1000-pt scale)	<550	600-650	>700
Ports per Station	<3	4-6	>10

Examples

1. Titan Freight Systems (Pacific Northwest, U.S.): Deployed 6 electric trucks in 2024 with dedicated depot charging, expecting 150,000 zero-emission miles. Their experience demonstrates that return-to-base operations with controlled charging environments achieve significantly higher success rates than reliance on public infrastructure.

2. Milence (UK/Europe): Opened Europe's first dedicated electric truck charging facility in March 2024, targeting the specific needs of heavy-duty commercial vehicles. By focusing on purpose-built stations rather than adapting passenger vehicle infrastructure, Milence addresses the distinct power, parking, and throughput requirements of freight operations.

3. Southern California Truck Microgrid (U.S.): Launched the nation's largest heavy-duty EV charging depot in May 2024, powered by the largest EV truck microgrid. This integration of on-site generation with charging infrastructure demonstrates solutions to grid constraint challenges that have slowed deployments elsewhere.

Action Checklist

• Audit existing or planned charging infrastructure using FTCSR rather than uptime as the primary reliability metric
• Model demand charge scenarios for any DC fast charging deployment, including mitigation strategies like battery buffering or solar integration
• Evaluate network interoperability requirements and roaming agreements before selecting charging partners
• Develop maintenance protocols that address the three-year reliability degradation curve
• Assess rural versus urban deployment balance against equity commitments and regulatory requirements
• Track emerging Megawatt Charging System standards for future heavy-duty vehicle needs

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between uptime and First-Time Charge Success Rate? A: Uptime measures whether a charger is technically operational and connected to the network. FTCSR measures whether a driver successfully completes a charging session on their first attempt. A charger can show 99% uptime while delivering only 75% FTCSR due to payment processing failures, connector issues, or software glitches that don't trigger offline alerts.

Q: How do demand charges affect charging station economics? A: Demand charges are utility fees based on peak power draw during a billing period, not total energy consumed. A station that draws 1 MW for even 15 minutes in a month faces demand charges on that peak regardless of average usage. For low-utilization stations, demand charges can exceed revenue, making load management and battery storage critical for viability.

Q: Is the Tesla Supercharger network opening to other brands beneficial for non-Tesla drivers? A: Results are mixed. While access expands charging options, non-Tesla drivers report higher prices and interface challenges. Adapters add complexity, and some Supercharger locations prioritize Tesla vehicles during peak periods. The NACS (North American Charging Standard) adoption by other manufacturers may improve this dynamic as native compatibility increases.

Q: What drives the utilization gap between urban and rural charging stations? A: Urban stations benefit from apartment renters without home charging, rideshare drivers, and commercial fleets—all high-frequency users. Rural stations serve primarily road-trip travelers with lower visit frequency. Economic viability typically requires 15-20% average utilization, which rural locations rarely achieve without subsidy support.

Q: How should fleet operators think about public versus depot charging? A: Depot charging offers controlled costs, predictable availability, and easier maintenance but requires significant upfront infrastructure investment. Public charging provides flexibility but introduces reliability risk, higher per-kWh costs, and scheduling complexity. Most successful fleet electrification strategies combine depot charging for routine operations with public network access for contingencies.

Sources

• Paren State of the Industry Report: U.S. EV Fast Charging Q2 2025
• ChargerHelp 2025 Annual Reliability Report
• J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Public Charging Study
• Vecharged 2025 Public EV Charger Reliability Report
• IEA Global EV Outlook 2025
• U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center