EV charging still falls short

We took a 320-mile trip to Ohio in an electric vehicle and I was reminded why charging is still problematic.

• It's not hard to find a charger these days; a surge in construction in 2025 made that a lot easier.
• The experience just stinks.

Why it matters: High gas prices have rekindled consumer interest in EVs, even without last year's tax incentives. But the continued inconveniences of charging still make it a hard choice for many.

My own experience trying to charge the BMW i5 xDrive40 was typical of what's wrong with public charging.

• It takes too long, there's no shelter from the elements and it's expensive — up to 60 cents per kWh, which is three to four times the cost of charging at home.
• Plus, the cables for high-powered DC fast-chargers are as thick as your wrist and can weigh 20 to 30 pounds, sometimes more.
• I actually hurt my shoulder trying to plug in my car at a public charger.

The charging industry is fragmented, too, which means you have to download the apps for multiple networks.

• Some EVs support plug-and-charge, which streamlines public charging by pre-registering payment methods in the car's app so you don't need to use separate apps or a credit card.
• BMW features plug-and-charge at some participating charging networks, but as a media tester, I hadn't registered via the app.

One important lesson I learned, especially during a cold weekend in northeastern Ohio: Precondition the car's battery for faster charging.

• This can be done several ways: by setting a departure time using the vehicle app, or navigating to a DC fast-charger, giving the car 15-30 minutes to prepare the battery for optimal conditions before charging.

• I forgot. And charging took longer than it should have.
• At a 180-kW charger, the BMW pulled closer to 80 kW.

It was the little indignities that annoyed me the most, like trying to scan a QR code in the biting wind just so I could download another network's app.

• Or the glare of the late-winter sun that made it impossible to read the screen on the charger.
• At one charging location, there was a trash can, at least, and a bucket of water to wash the windshield — but no squeegee.

The bottom line: Charging is more accessible, but it still tests your patience.