FLO survey: most drivers rely on fast chargers for long trips

According to a recent survey, FLO found that a majority of EV drivers rely on DC fast chargers for extended trips. The results, gathered from almost 40,000 EV drivers in the U.S. and Canada, provided insight into EV drivers’ charging habits and the activities they regularly engage in while charging.

Findings from the survey included:

DC fast chargers are needed for most EV drivers. FLO found that 42% of respondents indicated they use them at least once a month and 60% reported they rely on them for extended or multi-city trips;
Charging time is not idle time. In a question asking what activities drivers engage in while their vehicle is charging at a fast charger, FLO found that 51% of EV drivers said they engage with on-site amenities. When asked which activities they prefer to do while charging, 60% of drivers said they use this time to eat or buy refreshments while 19% said they use nearby retail stores to shop;
Reliable, public charging infrastructure is necessary. The survey found that 29% of EV owners in the survey did not have a charging station installed at their residences, highlighting the need for reliable public infrastructure, FLO said;
Owners use a mix of chargers and need access to both. The survey also discovered a diverse use of charging station types, with 35% of users primarily using Level 2 stations, 27% mainly using DC fast charging stations and 31% relying on a mix of both. FLO said this variety underscores the need for a comprehensive network that offers both quick top-ups and longer-stay charging solutions and is designed for drivers who live in a range of building types; and
Most EV drivers stay local and within the range provided by a single overnight charge. FLO found that 30% of Canadian respondents reported driving 151 to 250 kilometers per week and 37% of American respondents reported driving between 100 to 200 miles per week.

“FLO’s survey demonstrates the need for more robust charging solutions across North America, enabling drivers to plug in wherever they are—at work, home, or on the go.” said Louis Tremblay, president and chief executive officer of FLO. “Hearing from almost 40,000 EV drivers is extremely informative and points towards the effectiveness of both at-home and public charging networks in supporting the day-to-day lives of most EV drivers and providing the best charging experience one session at a time.”

Conducted last year, FLO said the survey supports the buildout of its own-and-operate network of fast chargers. The company said the program will primarily deploy the new dual-port FLO Ultra charger. With up to 320 kW of available power, FLO said its Ultra charger will charge most new EVs to 80% in 15 minutes. The station is capable of up to 500kW when paired with a second FLO Ultra charger.