Impact of user comments on the adoption of electric vehicle charging services: evidence from contextual data from the US

This study examined user comments from individuals who utilized the charging service, and how these remarks influenced the usage of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The transition towards electric vehicles necessitates understanding how to optimize charging infrastructure to promote their widespread adoption. We utilized data collected from the renowned electric vehicle charging station platform PlugShare to explore various factors including user feedback, service provision, site location, and pricing. The research findings suggest that there may not be a direct correlation between user feedback and charging station utilization rates, and the impact of pricing on utilization rates is minimal. Therefore, operators should not overly focus on user ratings and pricing. Regarding site service information, operators should prioritize improving the detail and transparency of service operation systems over offering diverse but generalized service descriptions, emphasizing the provision of detailed service descriptions and usage guidelines. In terms of site selection, considering the level of activity in the surrounding environment is more critical than the type of site location. These findings provide important insights for charging station operators and the development of electric vehicles and offer new perspectives for future research.