I'm surprised the various charging maps aren't simply using OpenStreetMap. It has a large basis of charging points and anyone is free to use the data or contribute, so integrating is pretty easy. Instead, we now need to use various third-party alternatives and the market is quite fragmented. I noticed a family member with an EV needs to check two or three different systems and they'll all show different results of what chargers are near<p>Of course, live (charging) status will need to be fetched from the operator, but that can be a URL field just like we have website and menu URL tags for restaurants
My neighbour's charge point is officially a public charger. It is located on his driveway, behind a closed fence. The reason it is 'public' is because there were government kickbacks for installing public charge points with no requirements to have ypur 'public' chargepoint be usable by the public.<p>This is not a one time exception. You can drive through city streets with your GPS showing multiple nearby public access chargers. With none in sight (they are iside people's garages or on their property behind closed fences).
Actual site is here: <a href="https://openchargemap.org/site" rel="nofollow">https://openchargemap.org/site</a><p>Site is quite janky on my M1 iPad Pro 12.9’’, and honestly, using a 3D globe view for this feels like form over function.
This is going to sound weird but I just did my first Tesla road trip and the charging stops were sort of low key highlights of the trip!<p>Picnic at one while we change. Nice stroll in a park coming back. Went to a restaurant I’d never go to another time.
Here in Ireland, I noticed that most of the "main" network public chargers are on Google Maps now, and for some of them they even show the list of connector options, number of points, and whether they are currently in use or not. They don't have costs, but I can't imagine it being that long before that information is also included. ESB, which is the largest (and cheapest) network is the most information complete.<p>Combine this with Google Maps' existing rate + review features, ability to upload pictures and all that, I can see how this will very quickly make other 3rd party services like plugshare or similar superfluous.<p>On a recent 800km road trip I just used Google Maps to find charging points along my route that was already planned on there. I tried using other services like ABRP or EVNavigation and found all of them pretty lacking.<p>Ireland is probably not representative of the rest of the world. It's very small, so with my Kona EV and it's 450km range, I can basically go anywhere with minimal stops for charging. Most of the bigger towns have at least one 50kw charger, and they are rolling out 100/200kw chargers at these locations now as well. There just is no need to have a detailed route planned out with battery SOC estimates and consumption and all that, and with charge points on Google Maps I feel we are very close to ICE convenience. I just drive, and when I'm a little low on charge I search on GMaps for a charger location, drive there, plug in, empty my bladder, get a snack, and then continue on my trip again.<p>The vast majority of my charging takes place at home though, so the above only applies when I am travelling further than 200km from home. Home charging provides access to more than 60% of the country I feel.
Worth mentioning that the US's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping to fund chargers:<p>> <i>This funding opportunity is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s signature EV charging investments: the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program that are set aside for strategic grants to states and local governments to deploy EV chargers.</i><p><a href="https://driveelectric.gov/news/new-cfi-funding-released" rel="nofollow">https://driveelectric.gov/news/new-cfi-funding-released</a><p>And as a part of this, federal standards were established for qualifying chargers. There's a bunch here to insure physical and electrical compatibility. But one of the excellent requirements is real-time API availability information, on how many chargers there are, what their charge rates are (per charger), and what chargers are presently open.<p><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/28/2023-03500/national-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-standards-and-requirements" rel="nofollow">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/28/2023-03...</a><p>This should be a great help to EV owners/renters in the US!
For Android users wanting to use Open Charge Map, I recommend using the EVMap app instead of the official one. It doesn't let you see or post comments, but you can see pictures if available. Much smoother and also tries to show the charger status:<p>- <a href="https://ev-map.app/" rel="nofollow">https://ev-map.app/</a><p>- <a href="https://github.com/ev-map/EVMap">https://github.com/ev-map/EVMap</a><p>I only use OCM when I want to add a picture or read/add a comment.
China is missing from this map, even though it has the most charging infrastructure of any country. Here's the best map I could find in a few minutes for China (warning - very resource-intensive website): <a href="https://chargermap.nio.com/pe/h5/static/chargermap#/" rel="nofollow">https://chargermap.nio.com/pe/h5/static/chargermap#/</a>.<p>Surprisingly, the above map is just charging infrastructure from one company. There is a lot of infrastructure from Tesla and other companies as well.
EVs will go mainstream when, and only when, this sort of thing is not needed, because you can charge your EV whenever and wherever you are, and in a few minutes, like gas stations.<p>To replace an incumbent product, a new competitor has to be at least two of: cheaper to buy, more convenient, and cheaper to use in the long run. EVs are running at 0.5 for 3, at best.
In the Netherlands we have the touring club (ANWB) app which shows all the chargers, their current status, all the parking places and petrol stations including the actual prices. Oh it also shows real time traffic and provides roadside help. All in one functional fast app for free. Amazing really what nonprofits can do.
I’m still kind of bummed that I can’t do a trip to eastern Oregon without renting a car. Even John Day is still iffy, I hope we can get more charging off the beaten track soon.
I found a free charger that was super slow. But nothing else was really in range. Luckily it was by a beach. But I literally had to hang out on this beach for five hours. Weird experience. Forced leisure?
I've been driving a Tesla around California these last couple of weeks, and using PlugShare to find "free" chargers (there are plenty of municipal chargers that don't charge, or don't charge for the first 2 hours, etc).<p>That works pretty well, though it's not entirely up to date yet. Shell ReCharge spots aren't listed consistently.<p>But what surprised me the most is that the Tesla map doesn't do a good job of alerting you to clustered Superchargers. For instance, in Quartsize, I've usually stopped at the only Supercharger I know about -- the one behind Carl's Jr. But across the highway there are new Superchargers, and behind Terrible's, there's a new one too. It's almost a year old at this point, and Terrible's has restrooms, and in 110F heat, the walk from the original Supercharger over to the Terrible's location is definitely something you'd want to avoid.<p>Tesla could do a better job of letting you know that when it's routed you to a Supercharger, there are actually alternatives/ options in the immediate vicinity. It pretty stubbornly just points you to whichever one it chose.
In the long run, we won't need any maps to find chargers. If you park, you can charge, not DC fast charging, but 240V charging. Cars are parked 22 - 23 hours/day, no need to build expensive DC Fast charging.<p>I wish there was a federal rule requiring all parking to have 240V. Every building spends millions of dollars on adding handicapped parking and making the building accessible -- these features are rarely ever used, but EV parking spots will be used every day and forever.