Most Common EV Charging Problems and How to Avoid Them

Even though plenty of drivers experience problems with public chargers, there are ways to help prevent certain headaches and otherwise make a trip in an EV or PHEV go smoothly. Here are some tips to help you stay powered up—at home or on the road—with less hassle. (For even more information, read our Secrets to Electric Car Charging.)

Have multiple accounts. Before you depart, look up the charging stations on your route and create an account for each of the different networks you might encounter. Having an account with your payment info ready will save you time when you get to the charger. Plus, if the charger screen isn’t working or is damaged, or if the charger can’t accept a credit card, you still may be able to complete the transaction using the app.

Check the apps for availability and status. Apps such as A Better Route Planner, PlugShare, and Chargeway (a partner with the EV Charging Community) will show you all of the available chargers and their operating status. Some apps can also plan your drive based on your vehicle, and send you to chargers that aren’t out of service.

Don’t charge to full. EV batteries charge fastest and most efficiently between almost empty and about 80 percent full. Adding that final 20 percent can take a lot longer than the rest of the charge. As long as you can make it to the next charger or to your destination, you don’t need to spend that extra time waiting for a full charge.

And don’t wait until the battery is empty. Driving to empty is harmful to the battery’s long-term health and can heighten range anxiety and become a challenge if you encounter broken or busy charging stations. 

Buy a home charger. The easiest way to guarantee that you’ll always have a charge is to buy a home charger. Of course, this isn’t an option for everyone, such as apartment dwellers or people who rent their homes. But owning a Level 2 (220 volt) charger allows you to charge overnight when you don’t need the vehicle. Charging at home is probably already cheaper than using a public charger, and you may also be able to take advantage of lower electricity rates by charging during off-peak hours, depending on your utility company.

Precondition the cabin. By preconditioning your EV when it’s plugged in—via app or through the car’s infotainment system—you can heat or cool the cabin while connected to the electric grid. This means you won’t be using energy from the battery to get to a comfortable temperature while you’re driving. 

Get the most out of your charging session before arriving. Many EVs can precondition the battery for a charging session, which heats it up and allows it to receive a charge more quickly. This is particularly helpful in cold weather when batteries charge much more slowly. You can usually activate this feature by entering a DC fast charger into the vehicle’s navigation system or pressing a button to manually start the process.

Choose an EV with 300+ miles of range. Many electric vehicle buyers say that they suffer from range anxiety—worrying about running out of battery before reaching their destination. But most modern EVs have a range of over 250 miles on a full battery, and an increasing number of models are available with 300 miles of range or more. That range is sufficient for most trips.