Consumer champion Which? has urged the Government and charge point operators to ensure public charging is “fit for purpose” as it warns of widespread driver dissatisfaction.

More than two-thirds (69%) of EV and PHEV drivers said they were unhappy with the UK’s public charger network

Its survey of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners who have used the UK’s public charging network found more than two-thirds (69%) said they were unhappy with it.

Of EV and PHEV drivers who have used public chargers in the past, a quarter (25%) said cost is the primary reason they have since stopped using them. PHEV owners are more likely to be put off by cost – half (48%) felt that public charge points are too expensive, while the same was only true for a third (33%) of EV drivers.

Reliability of public charge points was also an issue. Three-quarters (73%) of survey respondents said they have experienced a faulty public charger at least once in the last 12 months, while nearly four in 10 (37%) rated it difficult to find a working charger at all.

Some drivers also found charge points confusing and difficult to use, with one in five (21%) EV drivers and a quarter (25%) PHEV drivers reporting this. A quarter (23% EV and 24% PHEV%) of both EV and PHEV drivers found the payment methods on offer inconvenient.

Nearly nine in 10 (85%) drivers who used public chargers said they would prefer to pay by contactless bank or debit card, but many charging points still require payment through an app.

One Which? member said: “One charger wanted me to use an app and would not accept just a credit card. I did not have the app and (had) low signal, so couldn’t download it.”

Another said: “The infrastructure is dismal. It should be as easy to charge a car as it is to buy petrol. It is infinitely more complex with different systems, paying methods, limited access and non-functioning chargers.”

Around six in 10 owners (63%) who used public chargers also found it difficult to compare prices between charge point operators.

Four in 10 (41%) of EV and PHEV owners said they only use the public charging network every few months or less, with a quarter (25%) saying they have never used a public charging point.

A similar proportion said they had no need to use public chargers, with more than nine in 10 (96%) EV and PHEV owners opting to charge their car at home at least some of the time. However, Which? is concerned that charging at home will not be an option for many people looking to make the switch to EVs, which is why the network needs to be improved.

The Government introduced rules late last year to increase pricing transparency, reliability and contactless payments for charge points by the end of 2024.

Which? says this is a step in the right direction and has called for consumers to see tangible improvements as soon as possible.

It’s warned that the Government and charge point operators have more work to do before consumers can feel fully confident in making the switch to EVs.

This includes reliability of chargers and payment systems that are simpler to use.

The number and location of charge points also remains a major issue for drivers – and Which? says the Government needs to urgently work with charge point operators to support the rollout of new charge points.

Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, said: “It is positive that the Government passed new rules that should see improvements in consumers’ experiences of the public charging network. The Government and charge point operators must continue working together to ensure the UK’s charging infrastructure is up to scratch. Charging must be easy and reliable to support more people to make the move to an electric car.”

EVA England, which supports and represents EV drivers, also commented on the research.

James Court, chief executive of the association, said: “Well over 90% of EV drivers would never go back to petrol or diesel, and charging in the UK is getting better all the time. However, it is still a postcode lottery, with some areas much better served than others.

“Although the vast majority of EV drivers have no issues with charging, it is clear there is still room for improvement to the current infrastructure, as well as the need for expansion to keep up with new sales of EVs. We need to see planning laws, connection times and regulations stripped back so we can build charge points more quickly, and we need to see costs of public charging made fairer, so those without their own driveway do not get punished.”