VOLKSWAGEN EXPLORING NACS! OUR CANDID CONVERSATION WITH VW ABOUT CHARGING RELIABILITY

EV Channels Review

This episode of the Out of Spec Podcast delves into Volkswagen's stance on adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) and the persistent charging reliability issues faced by their EV owners in the US, primarily with Electrify America (EA). Host Kyle recounts a candid conversation with Pablo Di Si, CEO of Volkswagen North America, highlighting a stark contrast between EV charging experiences in Europe and the US. While European charging is generally seamless, US owners frequently encounter problems with EA, including slow charging, failed sessions, and non-functional stations. Volkswagen acknowledges the issue and states they are 'continuing to explore' the NACS option, a move seen as positive but lacking urgency. Disappointingly, VW appears to place significant trust in EA's self-reported data, despite evidence from Rate Your Charge and anecdotal reports suggesting otherwise. The podcast emphasizes that reliable public charging is crucial for EV adoption, citing a personal anecdote of a VW ID.4 owner who traded their EV for a gasoline car due to charging frustrations. The hosts advocate for automakers to personally experience charging challenges to better understand customer pain points.