Which EV Charging Networks Break the Most?
Uptime data and failure rates for Tesla, ChargePoint, EVgo, Electrify America, and Blink — plus step-by-step advice when you arrive at a broken charger. Based on 84,037 US stations.
Found a broken charger? See our full guide → EV Charger Outages: Network Scorecards, Causes & What To Do
Broken EV chargers are one of the most common complaints among electric vehicle drivers. Industry research, including data from J.D. Power's EV Experience Studies and PlugShare's community check-in database, consistently shows that roughly 20–25% of DC fast chargers experience some failure mode at any given time — broken connectors, payment terminal failures, network outages, or full hardware faults. With 70,532 DC fast charging ports across the US, that means tens of thousands of ports are potentially unreliable on any given day.
The good news: reliability is improving, failure patterns are predictable, and there are concrete steps you can take to avoid getting stranded.
~25%
DC fast chargers with issues at any given time
70,532
Total DC fast ports in the US
198,288
Level 2 ports (more reliable hardware)
~5–8x
Higher failure rate vs. Tesla Supercharger
EV Charging Network Reliability (2026)
Uptime estimates sourced from J.D. Power EV Experience Studies, ICCT charging reliability research, and PlugShare community data. Individual stations vary widely.
Tesla Supercharger
3,031 stations
Industry-leading uptime. Proactive remote monitoring and rapid maintenance response.
EVgo
1,179 stations
Generally strong uptime on newer installations. DC fast focus with active monitoring.
Electrify America
1,151 stations
Significant reliability problems in 2022–2023; steady improvement ongoing. High-power hardware adds complexity.
ChargePoint
44,809 stations
Largest network by count but hosts maintain stations — quality varies widely by location owner.
Blink Network
5,755 stations
Historically the most-criticized network for broken units. Ongoing hardware and connectivity issues.
Non-Networked
8,846 stations
No remote monitoring means broken units may stay down indefinitely until a driver reports them.
Why Do EV Chargers Break So Often?
DC fast chargers are high-voltage industrial equipment exposed to weather, heavy usage, and varying maintenance standards. Several factors drive the failure rate:
Payment Terminal Failures
Credit card readers, RFID scanners, and touchscreens fail independently from the charging hardware itself. A working charger with a dead payment terminal is still useless for most drivers.
Network Connectivity Issues
Many DC fast chargers rely on cellular or Wi-Fi connections to authenticate sessions. Loss of connectivity — common in rural areas — can prevent a perfectly functional charger from initiating a session.
Physical Cable and Connector Damage
Heavy use, incorrect unplugging, and vandalism damage cables and connector pins. A single damaged connector on a multi-port unit effectively reduces capacity for all users.
Slow Maintenance Response
Many stations are operated under third-party management contracts with slow response SLAs. Non-networked chargers have no remote monitoring at all — they stay broken until someone physically reports them.
Rapid Scaling Outpacing Maintenance
The number of DC fast charging ports in the US has grown from ~56,000 to over 69,000 in under a year. The maintenance workforce and standards haven't kept pace with this growth.
What to Do When You Arrive at a Broken Charger
Follow this sequence — don't give up after the first connector fails.
- 1
Try a different connector on the same unit
Multi-port stations often have 2–4 connectors. One may be broken while others work fine. Move to an adjacent port before leaving.
- 2
Restart the session
Unplug completely, wait 30 seconds, and try again. Payment terminal glitches and session timeouts often resolve on a fresh attempt.
- 3
Use the network app instead of the card reader
If the physical payment terminal is broken, the network's app can often start a session directly. Download ChargePoint, EVgo, or Electrify America apps before your trip.
- 4
Call the network support number
It's printed on the charger unit (usually prominently). Support reps can often remotely reset the station or issue a credit. Keep a list of support numbers: ChargePoint 888-758-4389 · EVgo 877-494-3833 · Electrify America 833-632-2778 · Blink 888-998-2546.
- 5
Report it and navigate to the next station
Report the outage in the network's app and on PlugShare so other drivers know. Then navigate to your backup station — always have one planned for road trips.
Network Customer Support Numbers
How to Avoid Broken Chargers Before You Arrive
Check PlugShare before leaving
Look for check-ins within the last 12–24 hours. A working charger almost always has recent activity. Silence or old check-ins is a warning sign.
Use networks with real-time status in-app
ChargePoint, EVgo, and Electrify America apps show live connector status. Check the app before driving out of your way.
Plan a backup stop for every charging stop
On road trips, never rely on a single station. Plan A Better Routeplanner routes with alternates. Know the next closest station before you arrive.
Prefer stations with more ports
Larger stations (6+ ports) statistically have at least some working connectors even when individual ports fail. Avoid single-port stations for critical charging.
Join multiple networks before a road trip
Free accounts on ChargePoint, EVgo, and Electrify America take minutes to set up. Having all three means you can always access the nearest working station.
Level 2 vs DC Fast Charging: Which Is More Reliable?
Level 2 chargers are significantly more reliable than DC fast chargers. The lower power levels (6–19 kW vs 50–350 kW) mean simpler electronics, fewer failure points, and lower thermal stress. Most Level 2 reliability issues come from the payment terminal rather than the charging hardware itself — and many Level 2 stations require only a network app or RFID card, bypassing credit card readers entirely.
The US currently has 198,288 Level 2 ports compared to 70,532 DC fast ports. For daily charging where speed isn't critical, Level 2 is the more dependable choice. DC fast chargers should be reserved for road trips and situations where speed is essential.
Level 2
~95%+
Typical uptime
Simpler hardware, fewer failure points. Most issues are payment-related.
DC Fast (avg.)
~75–92%
Typical uptime (varies by network)
High-power hardware with more failure modes. Always plan a backup.
Industry Expert Perspectives on Reliability
"Reliability at scale is a learning problem, not a maintenance problem. When data and field experience are fragmented, every failure is treated like the first. I think we have one year... until the end of 2025 to save consumer trust."
Kameale Terry
CEO, ChargerHelp
"The state of play today is that not all charging sessions are cyber-secure. The communication between the vehicle and the charge point may still be in plain text."
Juha Hytönen
Senior Director, Irdeto
Compare networks in detail: browse charging networks | national statistics | charging cost guide