Electric vehicle (EV) charging station site hosts might be able to better attract and satisfy their customer needs if they focus on key site attributes related to safety, according to a new report, “EV Market Insights,” released this week by the Transportation Energy Institute’s (TEI) Electric Vehicle Council (EVC).
This research followed an integrated approach to determining the current perceptions and behaviors of light-duty EV drivers and charging station operators and site hosts. The methodology surveyed drivers (EV and non-EV) and business operators in the US and interviewed EV charging station site hosts and operators in North America and Europe.
“There have been hundreds of surveys released that ask drivers about their experience, preference and intent,” said John Eichberger, Executive Director of TEI. “But this is the first that we are aware of that combines insights from drivers with the experience of charger site hosts. This type of analysis is critical if we are to build a charging network that satisfies the needs of both the driver and the site host and provides business value to those investing in infrastructure.”
According to the report, the most important site features desired by EV drivers included:
- Multiple charging spots
- Open 24 hours per day, seven days per week (provided by 52% of sites surveyed)
- Chargers located in a highly visible location (provided by 68% of sites surveyed)
- Bright lighting around charging units (provided by 56% of sites surveyed)
- Visible security cameras (provided by 65% of sites surveyed)
Charging station site hosts that offered these services, plus a playground for children, could potentially “activate” 94.2% of EV drivers to visit their site for their charging needs.
The EVC recognizes that the pace of EV adoption and charging infrastructure scaling will increase exponentially over the next several years. To build a reliable and sustainable EV charging market, it’s critical it benefits consumers and those companies who operate the equipment at their facilities.
To download the full report, please click here.
Filed Under: Charging, Technology News