By 2025, EV charging has become somewhat easier. Despite economic headwinds and the withdrawal of federal NEVI funding, the U.S. public charging network is showing signs of improvement centered around reliability. According to the latest report from J.D. Power, this progress is mainly due to Tesla.
Overall Satisfaction Declined but Reliability Improved
Overall user satisfaction decreased by 10 points. In 2025, customers’ main complaints were charging costs and issues with the payment process. However, there is also positive news: users report that charger reliability has significantly improved, with fewer charging failures upon arrival at charging stations.
Ecosystem Unites Without Federal Funding
“Even without NEVI funding, various stakeholders in the EV ecosystem, including automakers and charging network operators, are collaborating to enhance the public charging experience for customers,” said Brent Gruber, an EV expert at J.D. Power.
He continued: “Regardless of the presence of federal funding, NEVI guidelines have established a roadmap for the industry’s success. Although satisfaction scores declined this year, the data clearly shows that public charging reliability and success rates have improved.”
Tesla Remains on Top but Competitors Are Catching Up
Tesla’s Supercharger network, with a satisfaction score of 709, continues to be the absolute benchmark for fast charging experiences in the U.S. Its advantage lies not so much in technological superiority but in the homogeneity and simplicity ensured by being built for a single brand.
Notably, networks operated by non-Tesla manufacturers (such as Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, and Ford) achieved an overall tied score of 709. The report points out that while the coverage of these networks is still limited, their initial performance successfully applies lessons learned from Tesla’s ecosystem.
Multi-Brand Networks Lag Behind
Conversely, charging networks accessible to all EV brands consistently receive the lowest ratings. In both DC fast charging (DCFC) and Level 2 charging, Blink ranks last, below EVgo and Electrify America.
