Germany. 2/3 of charging sessions on a single operator. In total, only 3 networks. Beginners have even fewer, an average of 2.4 networks.
A study of 2,507 German electric vehicle drivers who charge at public charging stations shows that the overwhelm caused by numerous charging apps is temporary and short-lived. Experienced EV users rely on just three networks, with 2/3 of their charging sessions taking place at one preferred provider. Those who are new to electric vehicles encounter an even smaller number of charging networks, with an average of only 2.4 providers.
Do you have many charging apps? Are you a journalist, influencer, tester, or rarely: an ordinary user?
The study was conducted in July 2026 in a market that is much more advanced than Poland’s when it comes to electric vehicle purchases – namely, Germany as mentioned earlier. It turned out that drivers of electric vehicles prefer charging network operators run by energy providers (EnBW mobility+, E.on Drive, Ewe Go; source). So if PGE or Tauron mishandle this market, they can start estimating the billions of zlotys slipping away from them right now. The upside is that Poland is about seven years behind Germany, giving energy producers time to make up for the losses.
German drivers prefer charging networks operated by electricity providers
The second most preferred operators are companies from the petrochemical industry (Aral Pulse, Shell Recharge). Car manufacturers’ subscription services rank only third. Their main advantage is integration with cars, allowing users to select options from the car’s multimedia system. Further down the list are companies focused solely on charging station networks, as Ionity, Fastned, and Allego only occupy fourth place. Tesla is an exception here, with 88 percent of buyers of this brand using Superchargers.
The charging services offered by municipalities and independent roaming operators play an increasingly smaller role, while the importance of services provided through other businesses such as Lidla, Aldi, and Edeka networks is growing. Among the most important factors when choosing a charging station are 1/ good locations, 2/ high reliability, and 3/ an easy-to-use app. Prices play a significant role in choosing an operator but become less important afterward.
When it comes to user experience, services provided by car manufacturers receive the highest ratings (53 points). Right behind them are Tesla (52 points), Ionity (49 points), Shell Recharge (48 points), and Aral Pulse (47 points). It’s worth noting that among Tesla owners, the Tesla operator scores a record 62 points – which is understandable given the ease of use, seamless operation, and simplicity of billing. EnBW mobility+ is chosen for its large number of charging stations, while Aldi and Lidl attract customers with low prices.
Editor’s note from Elektrowozu: In Poland, as usual, things are chaotic. The same was true in the publishing industry.
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