A recent survey by electric vehicle advocacy group Plug In America reveals increasing confidence in public charging infrastructure. Of the more than 1,500 EV drivers surveyed, 44% reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the number and availability of public charging stations in their area — an increase from 36% the previous year.
Tesla drivers report the highest satisfaction with public charging, based in part on the widespread availability and accessible location of charging stations.
About 46% of respondents said they were satisfied with the reliability of public charging, up from 38% the previous year. More than half responded that, when using a public charger, the charge initiates on the first try, 73% experienced consistent current flow, and 72% reported no problems disconnecting from the port.
An area where dissatisfaction climbed was the percentage of drivers who thought the cost of public charging is too high — up from 27% in 2024 to 47% in 2025. More EV drivers also reported a lack of amenities.
The price of electricity at pubic chargers, though, has remained stable over the last year, according to Stable Auto and Ingrid Malmgren, senior policy director for Plug In America, increasing only 1 cent per kilowatt hour for the cost of Direct Current fast charging (DCFC) and decreasing 1 cent per kWh for Level 2 charging.
One reason for the perceived increase is that newer EV drivers are realizing the substantial cost gap between home charging and public charging. Public charging typically costs two to three times more than charging at home, Malmgren noted. As public charging stations become more widespread, drivers are paying closer attention to price when weighing their options.
“I believe the EV charging industry would benefit from more signage to indicate the availability of public charging stations, as well as an increased focus on price transparency,” Malmgren said. “Gas (car) drivers see large signs with gas prices near every station. EV drivers must pull up to the station before seeing the prices, unless they are using an advanced vehicle navigation system.”
While Plug In’s survey results are good news for EV advocates, these findings follow a nationwide AAA survey released in June 2025, which indicated that consumer interest in EVs is waning. Only 16% of adults said they would be likely or very likely to purchase an EV for their next car, the lowest level of interest expressed since 2019. High purchase price, concerns about battery safety and range anxiety — the fear that an EV’s charge would run down on a long trip, and there would be no place to plug it in — contributed to peoples’ lack of enthusiasm, according to the results.
While AAA’s findings differ from other national studies — such as Pew Research Center’s June 2025 report showing growing interest in EVs and hybrids — there are factors that help explain the variation, Malmgren noted. AAA’s results were focused specifically on fully electric vehicles, where other studies often include plug-in hybrids. And by using terms like “purchase” or “buy,” the survey may have excluded respondents planning to lease. Leasing is common among first-time EV drivers, with about 50% choosing this option to get familiar with the technology, Malmgren added.
Plug In America’s survey results reflect part of the evolutionary process of the EV transition.
“The first priority is to ensure adequate public charging for EV drivers to build range confidence,” Malmgren said. “As EV drivers become confident in their ability to charge publicly, they begin to focus more on price signals and seek less expensive chargers, especially when they have access to home charging and are aware of the comparative affordability of retail electricity rates.”
AAA’s Recommendation: Whether you own an electric vehicle or a gas-powered car is up to you – and you should consider lots of factors in making that choice. No matter what type of vehicle you’re choosing, we recommend visiting a dealership, test driving one, and asking as many questions as possible to make an informed decision.
