Want to find EV charging stations? These are the best ways!
Good news for the environment! In 2021 worldwide electric vehicle sales increased around 80%, with 4.3% of global car sales in 2020 and 7.2% during 2021. With the rise of electric vehicle sales comes the need for more chargers. And also the necessity for drivers to find EV charging stations wherever they go.
Forecasts say that EV sales will continue to grow during the following years. In the US, President Joe Biden has set the goal for half or almost half of all the new cars sold to be zero-emission by 2030. If that were to happen, by 2050 60% of all cars on the road would be electric. To achieve that goal, drivers have to feel safe that they’ll be able to find EV charging stations near them, wherever they are driving through.
The best way to find EV charging stations
Driving an electric car offers benefits for everyone. The environment gains from the reduction of harmful gasses responsible for climate change. Those who decide to drive this technology can access different incentives from the government. In addition, electric vehicles require less maintenance, so it’s also a benefit for the pocket.
It’s not uncommon to be a little wary or afraid to switch from a regular car to an electric one, but to find EV charging stations nearby is getting easier and quicker. For starters, almost every EV purchased comes with a basic charger, called Level 1. And according to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric vehicle owners charge their vehicles mostly at home.
For those who may charge at home but need to know that they’ll find chargers on the way to work, there are a growing number of public charging stations installed across the country. Depending on the state in which a driver is in, charging the EV at a public charging station may be easier or a little more complicated.
To make it easier, several companies offer different ways to find the nearest charger, including:
- EVCS. They offer a mobile app and a website to search for the nearest fast charger. It’s as easy as introducing a zip code, full address, or city.
They own the majority of the chargers found across the West Coast Electric Highway.
Tip: they also offer a monthly subscription plan. By subscribing, a driver can recharge its EV battery as many times as needed for a fixed fee.
- PlugShare. They offer a public EV charging map that functions in the U.S. and many other countries.
One of their distinguishing characteristics is that they’ve got an EV trip planner in their mobile app.
- Chargemap. This app also works in the United States and many European countries. This offers crowd-sourced information on charging stations, with reviews from users.
- Open Charge Map. It’s a free app where users can search for stations, plus they also can submit new ones to the map.
This one also lets people leave reviews and pictures of the charging spots.
Types of EV chargers
If you already own or are planning to buy an EV, you must understand the differences between EV chargers are divided into levels. The higher the level the faster the charger.
Level 1 chargers are the slowest ones and frequently come when buying an EV. They can be plugged into a regular wall outlet and will charge a standard EV in about 24 hours.
Level 2 chargers are found both in public stations and in residential areas. This type of charger will take an EV battery to its full in about 8 hours.
On the other hand, there are Level 3 chargers, best known as DCFC. As these are big chargers that require space and technology, they’re frequently located at public stations.
Depending on the EV and the power output, a DCFC can charge its batteries to 100% in between 15 to 60 minutes. Fast, right?