OWN THE ROAD WITH AUTOTRADER, EPISODE 24: WHY ARE WE SO GRUMPY ABOUT EV CHARGING?

EV Channels Review

In this episode of AutoTrader's 'Own the Road,' hosts Dan and Jodi express significant frustration with the current state of public EV charging infrastructure. They highlight that without reliable home charging, the EV ownership experience is severely hampered, citing personal experiences with broken chargers, app-based payment issues, and inconsistent charging speeds. Dan recounts a particularly poor experience with a Mercedes EQB, which struggled with charging reliability and offered a disappointing range (around 332 km on a full charge, below the 400 km benchmark many Canadians desire). The hosts criticize the fragmented app ecosystem, the lack of universal payment methods like credit card tap, and the unreliability of charging networks, drawing parallels to the simplicity of gas stations. They argue that government mandates for EV adoption should be matched by similar pressure on charging infrastructure providers to improve reliability and accessibility. While acknowledging that EVs can be great vehicles, they strongly advise against recommending them to those who rely solely on public charging until these issues are resolved. The episode also touches on battery preconditioning in cold weather, noting that while it helps range, it's not universally available or seamlessly integrated across all vehicles and navigation systems.