RALEIGH, N.C. — Nine in ten electric vehicle drivers are willing to detour to reach a charging location recommended by another driver, according to new research published by EV charging software provider Driivz, a Vontier company (NYSE: VNT).
The online survey, conducted in early 2026, covers more than 3,000 EV drivers across North America and Europe and examines how drivers choose public chargers and share experiences. The global study highlights an operational shift in driver decision-making, where peer recommendations and social trust increasingly dictate public charger selection over traditional satellite navigation.
Key Survey Findings
| Survey Metric | Key Driver Sentiment |
|---|---|
| Willingness to Detour | 91% will detour for a recommended charger; 55% will travel >5 minutes out of their way. |
| Network Avoidance | 76% will avoid a charging network entirely based on a warning from friends or family. |
| Post-Experience Feedback | 79% warn friends/family after a poor experience; 76% report via app; 65% leave online reviews. |
| Positive Advocacy | 42% talk about sessions exceeding expectations, vs. 39% who share negative experiences. |
Word of Mouth and Specialist Apps Challenge Sat-Nav Dominance
When navigating to an unfamiliar charging location, respondents reported higher trust in specialist charging discovery apps (33%) and word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family (32%) compared to built-in satellite navigation and mapping applications (27%).
Driivz notes these sources operate as distinct channels of intelligence rather than overlapping habits:
- Specialist App Users: 81% of drivers who rely on specialist charging apps do not consider standard navigation tools among their top trusted sources.
- Word-of-Mouth Users: 76% of drivers who rely on peer recommendations similarly exclude standard satellite navigation from their primary sources.
Shiri Levi-Laor, CEO of Driivz, stated:
“EV charging has become much more than a question of where the nearest charger is located. Drivers are no longer just asking ‘where is a charger?’ They’re asking ‘is there a charger I can rely on?’ and increasingly, they’re trusting each other for the answer rather than relying on traditional navigation tools.”
“Reliable charging experiences build trust, and trust increasingly drives recommendations, reviews and future charging decisions. For operators, that creates a direct line from operational performance to customer loyalty, and ultimately, to long-term network utilization and profitability.”
Strategic Shift for CPOs: Utilization Over Network Expansion
The driver behavior findings align with data from Driivz’s 2026 State of EV Charging Network Operators Report, which indicates that charge point operators (CPOs) are reallocating capital toward operational uptime.
Currently, 59% of CPOs cite charger utilization as their primary driver of profitability, compared to 15% who prioritize physical network expansion. Operator investment priorities now center on:
- 24/7 Network Availability: Identified as the top priority by 47% of operators.
- Seamless Authentication: Ranked as a primary focus by 43% of operators.
The research also highlights a demographic split in driver behavior. Younger EV drivers represent early adopters of this “social layer,” actively exploring new networks, relying on specialist apps, and following peer feedback. Conversely, older drivers demonstrate higher brand adherence, favoring familiar networks over discovery.
FAQ: Driivz EV Driver Recommendation Survey
What is the main finding of the 2026 Driivz EV driver survey?
The survey found that 91% of EV drivers across North America and Europe would detour to use a charging station recommended by another driver, and 76% would avoid a network entirely based on a negative warning.
How do EV drivers find unfamiliar charging locations?
EV drivers place higher trust in specialist charging discovery apps (33%) and peer recommendations (32%) than in standard built-in satellite navigation or mapping apps (27%).
Why are charge point operators prioritizing utilization over expansion?
According to Driivz research, 59% of CPOs report that charger utilization is their main profitability driver, prompting higher investment in 24/7 uptime (47%) and seamless authentication (43%).
