The Electric Vehicle movement has grown over time, creating a dependency on clean energy for transportation. The increase in the number of users has resulted in an increase in the need for charging stations, both public and private.
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Having a reliable system to access the stations is one that needs to be adequately researched by any driver.
The major factors that help you make a more defined decision when it comes to charging your EV are the charging speeds, connector types, network operators, and preferred routes.
There is also the aspect of whether you are looking for a station in rural or urban areas. Rural areas have fewer charging facilities, but the few that are available often have convenience stores and hotels to allow you to do other things while you wait.
It is important to schedule your stops with your battery power in mind if you are travelling in rural areas. Urban areas, on the other hand, have so many stations, but it can be a problem finding one that has a parking space because of the traffic flow in such areas.
Types of Charging Stations
Unlike the Fuel stations that we are used to, EV charging stations operate on networks that power your EV based on your preferred speed, connector type, and EV brand type, each with their database and system of serving. The system is fitted with an integrated payment processing system that links your account with a payment account.
Level 1 Charging, which is the slowest charging speed option. This 120-volt outlet offers a 5 miles per hour charge.
Level 2 charging includes a 240-volt system that is common in public stations like shopping centers and parking garages since it adds 80 miles per hour charge.
DC Fast Charging (Level 3) is the fastest option, adding over 200 miles per 1/2 hour charge. Such stations are perfect for long-distance trips on routes with unreliable charging stations.
The Fastest Methods to Find Charging Stations
There are some distilled systems that have been placed to help you access stations faster and more effectively, whether as a new EV driver or an old one. Many of them will require some training and practice, but some of them are simple and straight to the point.
Built-In Vehicle Navigation Systems
Most of the modern vehicles come with fitted navigation systems that handle the needs of the car in real-time time planning out the best route with the available charging station for optimal battery maintenance. They also show availability and compatibility reports for the stations you have chosen.
Tesla's Navigation System
If you are using a Tesla, the built-in system sets the standard for charging solutions. Apart from planning the best route with stations fitted with connector options for Tesla, it also optimizes batteries before any charge and offers real-time reports of the conditions of car.
Smartphone Apps: Your Charging Command Center
Smartphones have apps that offer the same service for any EV driver. Many of the functioning networks have apps that work to guide drivers to the nearest available charging station, filtered under the preference of the driver.
Some of the most common charging apps are Plugshare, ChargePoint, EVgo, and ABRP (Better Route Planner). Each has been connected to a wide database of stations with detailed information about them, assisting any EV driver to choose wisely. You can easily start and stop a session using the phone.
They are community-based meaning any user with an account is expected to post their experience to aid the other drivers in their journey.
You, however, have to be careful with some of them, being regionally based.
Some of the apps, however, have limited access to only the stations that offer their network. Like Electrify and Blink. With this, they offer discounts to their members and reserved charging spots.
A Better Route Planner (ABRP) is designed to create special planning routes for long-distance travelers depending on the driving style, weather conditions, and vehicle model. It considers charging periods and stop duration to maximize the available time for travel.
Google Maps and Apple Maps are the most basic solutions that are widely known for their ability to access loads of information and set plans for any driver. It uses prompting that you feed it to get the exact stations that you are looking for. It will show you charging speeds, connector type, station details like location, contact information, street imagery, and the network operators for that station.
Voice Assistants: Hands-Free Charging Station Search
Modern voice assistants act like Google Maps and respond to the prompts that you have given them. Alexa and Siri are some of the commonly used voice assistants. This hands-free approach allows a driver to search for charging stations without having to stop to key in to their phones.
Advanced Tips for Finding the Best Charging Stations
Apart from the apps and the networks that the EV industry is attached to, there are some practices that, as an EV owner, you need to get used to. This ensures that all the time, you make the best out of the resources and the data that you have at any point to make your EV journey smoother and more adaptive.
Check Before You Go. The real-time updates by the network allow you to know the current state of the charging station before you head there. This is to prevent any delays and possible issues to be faced by the driver may face.
Work with the real-time reports by the other users. This ensures that you have an idea of the charging capacities and the traffic in that station.
Identify the stations that have the specific charger that you are looking for. This is mainly for users of Tesla and some of these unique brands that work with unique chargers for their cars.
Community Reports offer helpful real-time data that is not biased by the network. The recent check-ins and comments are usually valuable, and most of the automated systems might miss them.
Choose a charging station that is close to amenities that you can use as the car is charging. Naturally, it will take some time, which allows you time to handle other issues.
Consider off-peak times to avoid clashing with travelers and commuters who flood charging stations during those times.
Have a clear understanding of the pricing costs that are offered. They vary based on networks, time of charge, and location.
Select a network and opt for a subscription. Most of them offer reduced charges to the members.
Ensure you have a valid and working payment system that has been linked to the account in the network that you have decided on. This creates a seamless process of charging when you get to the station.
Road Trip Planning Tips
The charging stations that you will interact with have to align with the needs that you will have. This then means that you will have to filter the features that the stations have to find one that will serve you well. Some of the best ways to ensure that you attain this are through:
Using route planners to identify the right route based on factors like weather, battery capacity, and intended speed.
Input your destination so that it can find the best route for you from your current GPS location.
Ensure you have a backup option for the routes and charging stations that you will have chosen to use.
Account for the weather changes and altitude in the place you are and your destination too.
The temperature changes have an impact on the battery power.
Identify which of the major highways you are using and the networks that serve best along that route.
Overcoming Common Charging Station Challenges
As much as we have all the networks that are working well and systems set in place to make the process simpler, challenges often arise. This is mainly because they are human-generated, which requires constant updates and maintenance for their longevity.
The common issues that you will encounter at some point are:
Network fragmentation may seem overwhelming. You can opt for a multi-network app that serves regions regardless of the stations specified. This gives you a holistic view of the charging stations.
Implementing a universal payment system that allows you to process payments regardless of the network that you are using.
Some stations have access limits that only allow members to access certain sections, like parking at the charging station.
Always have a backup plan for the route and the stations that you decide to use.
The Future of Finding Charging Stations
The process of finding charging stations is expected to be faster and safer in the next few years. The future is bringing with it a lot of welcomed changes in technology. This is mainly through practices like:
Enhanced Predictive Technology that allows the driver to have a rough idea of the state of the battery and how far it still has to go, while planning out your next available charging station.
This technology also helps predict the charging stations in real time in terms of service and traffic that could be there when you get there.
Standardizing connector types to allow a more unified approach to the charging stations all over the country. The major suggestion has been the Tesla NACS (North America Charging Standard), which has already been implemented in most of the stations.
Expanded Infrastructure in the number of stations that are available. More stations are being set up, which makes looking for one close to you faster and more adaptable.
Smart Steps for New EV Drivers
Every new driver still has a journey to take, where they need to learn how to go about doing the things they need to know. Learn how to navigate the EV charging industry. How to identify the right stations and what not to do when you are handling an EV.
So some of the steps to help you be a better version of yourself is following the few steps.
Download some of the basic network apps like Plugshare to automate the entire process for you, making your work easier.
Set up the appropriate payment systems for each app to ensure that once you get to the stations, there are no delays. You should be keen to make sure you have accounts specifically for the route that you will be using on your trip.
Make time to practice looking for stations when you don’t need it.
This acts as a trial run for when you need a station that will suit your needs better. Ensure you try out several methods and networks to know which one works best for you.
Join the community of EV drivers in your region and the areas you often travel to. This gives you a chance to have access to real-time reports on the situation of the station for your planning purposes. This could be through social media and other EV forums.
Conclusion
Electric Vehicles have been on the increase in society as more people are appreciating the need to use clean energy as compared to the fuel energy we have become so accustomed to. Drivers now don’t have a big challenge in finding charging stations as drivers of some time back. The increased infrastructure makes it possible for more and more stations to be set up for people to use.
There are systems that you can use, like in-built navigation, apps, voice commands, and universal tools like Google Maps to help you map out the best and convenient stations around you based on your preference and EV brand. Understanding how each of them serves an EV driver is the basis of any route planning journey.
The continued upgrades and technological advancements assure us that in the future, your in-built navigation system in the EV will do all the work and inform you of your need for the next charge and the closest available station to you.
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