EV home charging costs rise as satisfaction falls, JD Power

EV owner satisfaction with home charging costs has declined in the United States, with average monthly spending rising to US$63, up US$5 from a year ago, according to JD Power’s 2026 US Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Home Charging Study. Satisfaction with the cost of charging fell 11 points year on year to 687 on a 1,000-point scale, while overall satisfaction with Level 1 portable chargers dropped 12 points to 569 and Level 2 portable charger satisfaction fell four points to 710. Level 2 permanently mounted charger satisfaction held steady at 733.

Despite the potential for scheduled charging to reduce costs, 46% of EV owners say they never schedule home charging, while only 38% always do so. Among owners who target off-peak hours, those who always schedule charging spent an average of US$65 in the previous 30 days, compared with US$71 among those who never schedule. Smart charging programme enrolment remains low at 12%, despite 69% of owners being aware of such options.

Level 2 permanently mounted chargers recorded 44.2 problems per 100 chargers, up 5.2 year on year, largely attributed to Wi-Fi and app connectivity issues on feature-rich units. Tesla ranked highest among permanently mounted chargers for the sixth consecutive year with a score of 771, followed by Emporia (761) and ClipperCreek (760).

“Charging costs for EV owners are climbing, yet only about 20% of owners say they received any kind of education or advice on home charging from their purchasing dealer,” said Brent Gruber, Executive Director of the EV practice at JD Power. “Automakers, dealers and utility companies all have a role in helping owners understand options like utility incentives and upgrading to Level 2 permanently mounted chargers.”

Source: JD Power