Car buyers are showing strong interest in electric vehicles (EVs). Some are even making reservations for autos that won’t be available until 2023–24.
Along with interest in environmentally responsible electric-powered transportation and sustainable electric power generation, EV drivers worry about being stranded with a drained battery. Never fear—there are apps for that. Check out these apps that help find EV charging stations.
Before downloading or purchasing any EV charging locator app, confirm compatibility with your phone, check if the app has a fee, and read the latest user reviews. Sometimes, updates throw users off and affect an app’s functionality in unexpected ways.
One of the most popular locator apps is PlugShare—it lets you input the type of EV you drive and filters for compatible charging stations. If there’s a fee for charging, you can pay securely through the app at participating stations.
There’s also a trip planning feature, and the app searches several major charging networks to find ideal charging stations. It lets users check in and leave comments about charging stations that can help others searching for a functioning place to power up their batteries. The app even has a feature where members of the PlugShare community can offer to share their residential charging stations with drivers in a battery bind.
For cash-strapped EV owners looking for a place to charge, Volta focuses on free charging stations that are available in 2-hour segments, typically between six o’clock in the morning and midnight. Drivers are likely to find chargers listed at malls or grocery stores.
ChargePoint, another popular app for finding charging stations, shares tips from other charging station users. For those who use ChargePoint home chargers, the app enables usage tracking, charging reminders, and scheduled charging to take advantage of off-peak rates for electricity. ChargePoint will show stations in other networks, but not as comprehensively as other apps.
Don’t forget about Google Maps as a locator for charging stations. Searching for EV charging stations based on your present location will turn up results but may not give you the same filtering capabilities as custom-designed apps that look for compatibility with your vehicle.
When you take a road trip in an EV, you benefit from finding hotels along the way that offer compatible charging stations. EV Hotels is an app that lets you do just that. The app will show you hotels with or without charging stations, and lodging that is within walking distance of EV charging locations.
Automakers are using 3D printing for parts and components to help meet surging demand for new cars, including EVs. Additive manufacturing can speed EV production and minimize material waste, helping contain costs for new EVs. As more drivers turn to EVs, charging networks must expand to service demand. A shortage of charging stations may be a problem for some time to come, but the above and more apps will continue to facilitate locating a place to charge EVs from all carmakers.
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