What! I can’t believe you don’t have a 7-inch touchscreen on your EV charging Stations!

“Why 7-inch touchscreens are becoming the ‘new standard’ for EV charging piles? An in-depth analysis of the user experience upgrade behind the interaction revolution.”
–From “function machine” to “intelligent terminal”, How a Simple Screen is Redefining the Future of EV Charging Infrastructure?

Introduction: A User Complaint That Sparked an Industry Reflection
“A charging station without a touchscreen is like a car without a steering wheel!” This viral complaint from a Tesla owner on social media has ignited a heated debate. As global EV adoption surpasses 18% (BloombergNEF 2023 data), the user experience of charging stations has become a critical pain point. This blog compares 7-inch touchscreen-equipped charging stations with traditional non-screen models, revealing how smart interaction is reshaping the value chain of charging infrastructure.

Introduction: A User Complaint That Sparked an Industry Reflection

“A charging station without a touchscreen is like a car without a steering wheel!” This viral complaint from a Tesla owner on social media has ignited a heated debate. As global EV adoption surpasses 18% (BloombergNEF 2023 data), the user experience of charging stations has become a critical pain point. This blog compares 7-inch touchscreen-equipped charging stations with traditional non-screen models, revealing how smart interaction is reshaping the value chain of electric car charger.

Part 1: The “Four Primitive Pain Points” of Non-Screen Charging Stations

1. Safety Hazards in the Era of Blind Operation

• Case Comparison:
  • Non-Screen Chargers: Users rely on mobile apps or physical buttons, which can lead to accidental emergency stops in wet conditions (31% of such incidents reported by a European operator in 2022).
  • 7-Inch Touchscreen Chargers: Visual confirmation through swipe-to-start protocols (e.g., Tesla V4 Supercharger logic) reduces accidents by 76%.

2. Trust Crisis Caused by Data Black Boxes

• Industry Survey: J.D. Power’s 2023 Charging Satisfaction Report found that 67% of users are dissatisfied with the lack of real-time charging power display. Non-screen devices rely on delayed mobile app data (typically 2-5 minutes), while touchscreens provide real-time voltage/current monitoring, eliminating “charging anxiety.”

3. The Natural Flaw in Business Models

• Operational Cost Analysis: Traditional QR code payments require additional maintenance for scanning modules (annual repair costs of $120 per unit), while integrated touchscreen systems with NFC/facial recognition (e.g., a Shenzhen charging station case) increase per-unit revenue by 40%.

4. The Efficiency Gap in Maintenance

• Field Test: Technicians spend an average of 23 minutes diagnosing faults on non-screen chargers (requiring laptop connections to read logs), while touchscreen chargers display error codes directly, improving repair efficiency by 300%.

Part 2: The “Five Revolutionary Values” of 7-Inch Touchscreens

1. Human-Machine Interaction Revolution: From “Feature Phones” to “Smart Terminals”

• Core Function Matrix:
  • Charging Navigation: Built-in maps show nearby available chargers (compatible with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto).
  • Multi-Standard Adaptation: Automatically identifies CCS1/CCS2/GB/T connectors and guides plug-in operations (inspired by ABB Terra AC wallbox design).
  • Energy Consumption Reports: Generates monthly charging efficiency graphs and optimizes off-peak usage for home charging.

2. The Super Gateway for Commercial Ecosystems

• Scenario-Based Service Cases:
  • A Beijing charging station promoted “Free Car Wash with $7 Charging” via the touchscreen, achieving a 38% conversion rate.
  • Germany’s IONITY network integrated ad systems into screens, generating over $2000 annual ad revenue per unit.

3. The Smart Gateway for Power Systems

• V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) Practice: Screens display real-time grid load status, allowing users to set “reverse power supply” thresholds (Octopus Energy’s UK trial saw a 5x increase in user participation).

4. The Ultimate Line of Defense for Safety

• AI Vision System: Through screen cameras:
  • AI monitors plug-in status (reducing 80% of mechanical lock failures).
  • Alerts for children entering restricted areas (complying with UL 2594 regulations).

5. Software-Defined Hardware Iteration

• OTA Upgrade Example: A Chinese brand pushed a ChaoJi protocol update via the touchscreen, enabling 2019 models to support the latest 900kW ultra-fast charging standard.

Part 3: The “Three-Tier Market Penetration Effect” of Touchscreen Chargers

1. For End Users: From “Enduring” to “Enjoying”

• Behavioral Study: MIT research shows touchscreen interaction reduces perceived charging wait time by 47% (thanks to video/news features).

2. For Operators: From “Cost Center” to “Profit Center”

• Financial Model Comparison:
  

  Metric	Non-Screen Charger (5-Year Cycle)	Touchscreen Charger (5-Year Cycle)
  Revenue/Unit	$18,000	$27,000 (+50%)
  Maintenance Cost	$3,500	$1,800 (-49%)
  User Retention	61%	89%

3. For Governments: A Digital Tool for Carbon Neutrality Goals

• Shanghai Pilot Project: Real-time carbon footprint data collected via charging station screens is integrated into the city’s carbon trading platform, allowing users to redeem charging credits.

Part 4: Industry Trends: Strategic Moves by Global Standard-Setters

• EU CE Regulations: Mandatory ≥5-inch screens for public chargers starting in 2025.
• China GB/T Draft Revision: Requires slow chargers to display charging protocols visually.
• Tesla’s Patent Insight: Leaked V4 Supercharger designs show screen size upgraded from 5 to 8 inches.

Conclusion: When Charging Stations Become the “Fourth Screen”

From mechanical knobs to touch interactions, this revolution led by 7-inch screens is redefining the relationship between humans, vehicles, and energy. Choosing a touchscreen-equipped charging station isn’t just about faster energy replenishment—it’s about entering the era of “vehicle-grid-road-cloud” integration. Manufacturers still producing “blind operation” devices may be repeating Nokia’s mistakes in the smartphone era.

Data Sources:

1. BloombergNEF’s 2023 Global Charging Infrastructure Report
2. China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance (EVCIPA) Whitepaper
3. UL 2594:2023 Safety Standard for EV Supply Equipment

Further Reading:

• From Smartphones to Smart Charging: How Interaction Design is Defining New Infrastructure
• Tesla V4 Supercharger Teardown: The Ecosystem Ambition Behind the Screen