Making use of EVs for your transportation has become more common today than it was before. This then creates confidence in the drivers, that purchasing an Electric Vehicle will not be a waste of time or resources.
The only challenge is that if not planned properly, you may face a bit of a challenge when it comes to finding the right charging station close to you. This is whether you are in a new region or even close to where you live. Locating perfect charging stations should be easy and convenient anywhere and at any time.
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How to Filter for Charging Stations
There are certain features of the charging stations that you need to consider before you are able to decide on which station is best for you.
In-Built Navigation Systems
Many of the EVs today have built-in navigation systems that are aimed to help them address the vehicle's range anxiety and charging needs to help you plan better. It's direct access, so the car's battery gives you a real-time report of how the car is faring and how much battery is still available.
EVs like the Tesla have a preset list of stations that have the Tesla outlet adapter, which is not available in most of the stations, routing you to the closest station to you. The system will then display the exact state of the car, including the charging period and the battery level. It can even preheat the battery when you get to the supercharger to optimize the battery for effective charging.
Other brands are now integrating such systems into their production system to allow a seamless navigation system with connector types, charging speeds, real-time availability, and local stations. These systems work in regions not limited to Ireland only and offer multiple route plans at once for you to choose the one that suits you best.
Current Power Output Allowances
Currently, there are different charging powers that can be found in most but not all the charging stations. Understanding the power output you are looking for is the first step in filtering out the type of charging stations that you are looking for.
Level 1, which uses a 120-volt outlet but has the lowest kW/hr charge, adds up to 5 miles/hr of charge.
This is perfect for residential and homes where you can leave your car charging for longer hours, like overnight.
Level 2 is a 240-volt outlet that adds up to 80 miles per hour. This is mainly found in shopping centers and working environments, where you have a limited time to charge while you do other things. This happens to be the most common in the public charging stations.
Level 3, which is the DC fast charger, powers 80% of the battery in 1 hour. The ultra speed of this is perfect for major highways and travel stations where long-distance drivers get to juice their cars in the shortest time possible to save on time.
The System Networks That Run the Charging Stations
Some of the stations run on smartphone apps where a driver has to create an account, which they will use to command their charging abilities more easily. There are other networks that are only web-accessible when you are using a public web search to try and get as much information as you can.
ChargeHub, AFDC (Alternative Fuels Data Center), and OpenChargeMap consolidate information from several networks and then offer you a comprehensive option for your EV.
Apps like PlugShare, ChargePoint, and EVgo, among many others, are comprehensive enough and user-friendly, allowing anyone to work around them.
IT offers a community-based feature where you can post your views and comments for someone else to view and get real-time information about the station.
They have access to over 600,000 stations all over Ireland and many more outside for when you attempt a trip outside the geographical limits of Ireland. They have been designed to show stations on a map with details like charging speeds, charging connector types, amenities, available charging bays, and pricing information.
If you often prefer DC fast charge options, Electrify America is the better option since it has access to extensive networks of high-speed charge stations of up to 350kW.
Google Maps is the oldest and reliable form of station tracking that allows all stations on its database to be filtered by charging speed and connector type, opening times, and contact information for the ones with restricted location access.
Voice Assistants and Hands-Free Options
Vehicles have been fitted with safe driving options that should allow the driver to handle planning your next charge even while you drive. These options are like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa.
They are voice-conditioned programs that use commands to give information from their vast database of already preinstalled information.
Most of the newer vehicles have this program preinstalled, but the new ones need to use Echo Auto Devices for the program to work.
Planning Ahead for Long-Distance Travel
Long-distance travel is very common today with the improved infrastructure and cross-border business transactions. However, if you are planning to move with an EV, it is important for you to plan prior to avoid any inconveniences. Choosing the right charging stations is important in maintaining the quality battery power and effectiveness of your car.
A BRP (better route planner) is a new model of route planning that considers details like your vehicle model, weather conditions, driving speeds, and the charge level you want to be at when you arrive at your next station. Such details help provide better advice and offer recommendations to maintain optimal battery performance. You can include intended breaks and charge limits in your BRP account.
Google Maps and MapQuest are some of the traditional planning tools. You, however, need to identify the route you intend to use first before you can get details of the stations on that route. It is more involved and tedious compared to the modern route options.
Many of the urban-based, level 2 charging stations are usually located in the parking garages and shopping centers that require parking payment apart from the charging fees. Apps like ParkWhiz and SpotHero have parking filters that allow you to identify which parking spot is available and the parking fees for that garage so that you can better for.
Backup options are very important and should be considered, despite the route planning option that you will take.
The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) helps in rural area travels that allow you access to areas that have restrictions on operating hours and other details that may not have been updated on most of the commercial apps.
Charging Station Features
There are a few features about any charging station that will help you determine whether you are getting the best service or not at any time.
Real-Time Availability
Most of the networks provide real-time data, and their availability is especially for the popular public charging stations. Apps like ChargePoint and Tesla are known for their efficiency in showing the availability of stations and the approximate waiting period, if any, in real time.
Most of the time, the authenticity is gauged by the comments and reviews that people post on the platform. At times, there could be delays and unexpected issues that lead to a delay in the update.
Reliability Ratings and Reviews
Every network has reliability rates that may vary. They could be true, but some could be doctored. It is important to look at the recent user reviews list and gauge the influence it has on your decisions. Any inconsistency could be a big red flag that you should consider.
Take keen notes on the older stations that may not have updated and maintained systems, causing an issue with reliability.
Backup Planning
Most of the stations have backup systems that need to be functioning. Most of the stations offer this information to the drivers to keep them informed. If the station does not have a working backup system, choose another station to act as the backup. This also applies to the stations that could be crowded or faced by a sudden issue that has caused a delay or a malfunction. You should have the next available station, especially if you are going to foreign areas.
Membership Charging Network Access Programs
Membership options are usually less costly and easier to handle since you might get to a station, and there is a program with their pay-as-you-go options. The only downside to having a membership is that it only functions in areas that have that network in their system.
The general charges are usually slightly lower per kW as compared to non-membership groups for the frequent users.
Universal Access Cards and Apps
There are services that work with universal recharge cards that allow you to use them in any of the stations assigned to them. The single access platform works in most stations in Europe and North America. It reduces the need for several apps and accounts that you need to manage, but could result in a slightly higher charge fee.
Automaker Charging Plans
Currently, with the increase in the purchases of EVs, there have been offers where manufacturers are offering charging credit cards to people who purchase vehicles from them. It adds value to your membership, especially over the first year, allowing you to take the most advantage of the benefits offered.
Emerging Technologies and Future Trends
There are AR (Augmented Reality) applications that link the charging station to our phone, allowing you to get information directly to your camera view. It is then easy for you to track charging stations in areas with limited or complex environments.
There are some algorithms that predict the availability of some of the stations based on the usage patterns and local events. The predicted timings minimize waiting times, making it more efficient in serving at the charging location.
The vehicle-to-infrastructure communication through the system networks helps to link the details of the vehicle to the available charging station, automating the entire process and easing the payment structure for the driver.
Expanded Charging Networks through the big corporations like Shell and Walmart make it easier for people to access the charging stations closer to where they are.
Practical Tips for Efficient Charging Station Use
These are some of the basic tips that you need to consider in the future to have an efficient charging time and maintain your battery in optimum condition.
Have a list of the frequently used stations on the routes that you often use. This could be around your home, school, workplace, shopping center, or gym.
Enable notifications on your network app to allow you to get notified when the stations have updates on their pricing, maintenance schedules, or even new stations opening up around you.
Plan your routes and stations based on several platforms and apps, and not just one, for efficiency and accuracy.
Plan your stops in relation to the amenities that you will need. This could be hotels for meals, shopping centers for snacks, and motels for lodgings.
Avoid peak time for charging. Early mornings and late evenings have been known to have a flood of clients, which leads to congestion and delay in the service that is provided.
Ensure you are part of the EV communities and preferably the ones in your region for the EV brand that you own. This allows you access to any updates on charging changes and any new station installation that you need.
Conclusion
Quickly locating EV charging stations is a skill that you need to learn as an EV driver. This is because any time you are on the road, you should have a calculated plan for the next charging stop that you need to have.
Doing this is nowadays easy and straightforward because of the several apps, vehicle navigation systems, and networks that do all the research for you.
Combining features from all the available platforms like PlugShare, ChargePoint, and voice-activated searches, you get a detailed, well-scheduled charging plan for your trip.
You need to know which app and which network serve what function best in the planning of routes and charging stations. This includes a safe driving and navigation system, like using the ABRP (better route planning) tool.
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