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Blog > Q3 2025 EV Charging Reliability Declines in North America
Q3 2025 brought the momentum that had been building since winter to an abrupt halt. After the all-time high recorded in April 2025, covered in our Q2 2025 Barometer, summer arrived with a wave of operational headaches that rippled across the entire continental network.
Global Performance Q3 2025: A Meaningful Step Backward
On average across the quarter, 58% of reported charging sessions went smoothly from start to finish, down 4 points from 62% in Q2 2025. That's not just a reversal of spring's progress; it also pulls performance below Q1 2025 levels.
Outright failure rates rose to 27%, up 2 points from the previous quarter. September was particularly rough, with a 29% failure rate across both the U.S. and Canada, placing it among the most difficult months in the past two years.
The year-over-year comparison makes the situation clear: Q3 2024 posted a 61.9% success rate, nearly 4 points better than this summer. Unlike the relatively flat trajectory between 2023 and 2024, this drop feels like more than a seasonal blip.
Q2 vs. Q3 2025 — United States and Canada
|
Indicator |
Q2 2025 |
Q3 2025 |
|---|---|---|
|
Charged successfully without any issue |
62% |
58% |
|
Reduced power or limited port availability |
10% |
11% |
|
Charging initiated but difficult or interrupted |
3% |
4% |
|
Charging failure |
25% |
27% |
ChargeHub CEO Simon Ouellette doesn't mince words: "September 2025 is a yellow flag for the industry. Dropping to 54% success in Canada, the lowest we've seen in 30 months, raises real questions. After the promising results in Q2, a regression of this magnitude in Q3 is hard to ignore. Nothing should be taken for granted. We'd need to dig deeper to understand what drove such a stark difference between the two quarters."
Canada vs. United States Comparison: Shared Challenges Amid Geographic Asymmetries
Both markets moved in the same direction this quarter, and the numbers are now remarkably close: Canada at 58% success (down 4.7 points from Q2) and the U.S. at 58.3% (down 3.3 points). The gap between the two countries narrowed to just 0.3 points, compared to 1.1 points in Q2. The Canada–U.S. convergence tells a story of shared operational stress, though the steeper decline on the Canadian side is worth noting.
Technical Reliability: More Sessions Going Sideways Mid-Charge
Two data points were particularly notable when it came to session quality.g The share of sessions that started but then became difficult or were cut short jumped to 4.3%, up 1.5 points from Q2's 2.8%. That's a rise of more than 50% in a single quarter, pointing to a real increase in mid-session disruptions.
Meanwhile, sessions that completed successfully but with reduced power or limited port availability held fairly steady at 10.3% (+0.3 points), suggesting that partial limitations aren't the main story. The bigger issue is sessions failing altogether.
Fall 2025 Outlook: Uncertainty Ahead for Q4
Fall 2024 averaged 60.2% success across North America, which means a meaningful recovery is within reach. But Q4 will also bring the first winter pressures, and the network will need to prove it can bounce back.
Simon Ouellette frames it well: "Difficult quarters like Q3 remind us how essential reliable infrastructure is twelve months a year. A passing grade isn't good enough. Drivers deserve a consistent, predictable experience no matter the season, and that's what will ultimately move the needle on EV adoption."
The real question heading into Q4: does the yellow flag turn red, or does performance find its footing again? The answer will tell us whether Q3 was a one-off or the start of something that needs to be addressed head-on.
The full analysis follows, including methodology, country-level breakdowns, direct comparisons, and a closer look at what Q4 2025 may bring.
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