plan my trip charging stations

Electric Vehicle Trip Planner

Easily find all the EV charging stations available along your route in North America.

To learn more about the different types of charging stations and how to charge before planning your trip, check out our guide on   ”How To Charge Your Electric Car With Charging Stations ” .

How To Use The EV Trip Planner?

To access the trip planner from the ChargeHub website, click on “Map”, in the top left corner of the navigation bar.

Once you are on the map page, you can open the trip planner panel by clicking the “Trip Planner” tab on the left side of the charging stations map page.

To enable the planner, click on the “OFF/ON” button so that it is "ON" . Note that at this point, you will have the option to select the unit of measurement by clicking on "KM" .

Once enabled the Trip Planner right sidebar will be displayed.

Enter Your Trip Details

Enter a “ Starting Point” and “ Destination” in the trip planner. It will suggest options based on what you input. Select the option you want, as shown in the following screenshot.

Now you have the option to choose how far away from your route you want the charging stations to be. Then click on "Find Routes". 

After clicking on “Find Routes” you will be asked to choose which route you prefer from the proposed routes as seen below, on the right panel of the Trip Planner :

Once you select a route, click on "Start Planning My Trip" and start adding charging stations to your itinerary, as explained in the following section "Add Charging Stops to your Itinerary".

Add Charging Stops to your Itinerary

At this point, you can add charging stations to your trip by zooming in on the map and clicking on map markers.

If you are planning to use the ChargeHub App to activate the station and pay , please make sure to select charging stations that have a golden thunderbolt in the center, as seen in the image below.

Only the charging stations that have a golden thunderbolt in the center are compatible with ChargeHub’s wallet app. You can pay for your charging sessions , across all available networks, at these charging stations, from within the app.

Once you have selected a charging station, all the information regarding the station will be displayed, on the right side of the screen.

Based on your EV and charging preferences, you can decide if the charging station meets your needs. If it does, add it to your trip by clicking "Add to trip".

NOTE: If you click on “See Complete Details” you will exit the trip planner and it will reset. In this case, you will need to start the whole Trip Planner process again from step one.

Once the charging station has been selected, it will be added to your trip as shown below.

If you need to add more charging stations, select and add as many as you need, by following the same process.

Save And Share Your EV Trip

Once you have finalized your itinerary you can: 

• Save your trip in your account for future reference
• Access your saved trips.

NOTE: To save and load a trip, you must be logged in to your  ChargeHub account.

Check out our other guides and resources on home charging

• A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Cars
• How to choose your charging station
• Top 9 most popular charging stations in 2024
• Incentives available in Canada for EV chargers
• Find the best EVSE solution according to your EV or PHEV

Browse the chargers on the ChargeHub Store

Find Public Charging Stations Near You

Plan your journey by electric car

The Chargemap route planner is here to help you plan the ideal trip that corresponds to your EV and preferences.

Download the Chargemap app for free on your mobile phone

Scores based on more than 45,000 ratings.

Hit the road in all peace of mind , Chargemap takes care of everything.

Indicate your departure point and destination, the battery level at the start of the journey and the level you want at the end of it, plus any midway stages.

Enter the EV you are taking on the journey.

Prioritise or limit a charging network, avoid tolls and motorways or log in a maximum speed to save on energy. The planner takes your charging preferences on board.

Chargemap automatically calculates your route and selects the charging stations that match up with the information you have logged in. You can also visualise your route directly: distance, overall travel time and the necessary charging stop(s) along the way.

Calculate your journey and come back to it whenever you want. Save time with the Save option for the route you have selected.

Access information about the charging station on the details screen and launch the navigation tool for your next charging stop on your favourite GPS app.

Where are you going?

What car model do you drive, you want to prioritise a charging network on your journey, enjoy the optimum route adapted to your needs, save your route, you're on your way.

Consult the charging stations in the vicinity

You want to see all the charging stations available along your route? Tap on the “Stations” button to find all the charging stations available in your vicinity.

Fine-tune your search for alternative stations

You want to take a charging break near a restaurant or go for a pub lunch? Click on the “Stations” icon then on the “Filter” cursor to fine-tune your charging preferences on your personalised route.

Adapt the Chargemap route to your needs and wishes.

You want to stay a little longer at a charging stop or set off again with a specific battery level.

When you reach a specific point along your way, you want to stop for longer to have a lunch break or take a stroll in the surrounding area. You can modify either the duration of your break, or the battery level you want before resuming your journey.

You need to charge near a specific location?

You want to profit from a charging stop to do a bit of sightseeing or go and see friends and family and so you are looking for a charging station in the vicinity. The route planner allows you to select an alternative charging station along the way.

Want to stop at a different charging station than the one selected?

With Chargemap, plan your ideal route by selecting the charging stations of your favourite networks. The tool automatically calculates a new route based on your preferences.

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Find charging stations

What is chargefinder.

Driving on electricity should be easy and then it must also be easy to find your way out in the jungle of all the charging stations in the United States and Canada.

We who started ChargeFinder ourselves experienced a need for an easy-to-navigate service with content that is both up to date and relevant.

No matter where in the world you are out driving, or planning to drive, you should be able to find suitable charging stations, see prices, availability in real time and get info on how to start charging.

ChargeFinder is continuously updated with new functions and new charging stations are added daily. Do you have suggestions and ideas for improvements or are you missing something? Feel free to send an email!

All relevant info in one place

The station page shows the charging speed, outlet type, number outlets, price, which operator owns the station, and other relevant location information.

With ChargeFinder's "Food and Shopping Nearby" it's easy to find out if there are eateries or other points of interest adjacent to the charging station.

To make it easier to find chargers nearby, there is always a list of the nearest charging stations close to the one you are currently viewing. From the overview, you can see station type, which operator owns the station as well as the distance to get there.

A click on the address opens a link to google for those who want to know more details about the place or see pictures.

Are there available charging stations near me?

With ChargeFinder, it is easy to get information about which charging stations are available right now. The information is retrieved in real time from various operators to ensure high reliability. Live status for all major operators in one place is unique and something ChargeFinder is the only one to show.

From the overview there is information about number of chargers that are available, occupied or out of order. With a simple click, the price and availability for each charger is displayed.

ChargeFinder continuously adds new stations and networks with Live status and has the ambition that all chargers that are connected should be included.

A Better Routeplanner

With ChargeFinder's route planner, it is easy to plan charging stops on the trip.

Enter between which cities or places you want to go and ChargeFinder calculates an optimal route based on your choices and criteria.

Quick chargers are shown on the map along the route and distances to the different chargers are presented in the list view. From the overview, it is quick to see if a charger is free or busy. Everything to facilitate planning and avoid queues.

See charging speed directly on the map

Destination chargers usually provide an output from 3 kW to 22 kW. Various shades of orange markers on the map means destination charging. Light orange means 3-7 kW and the darkest orange shade means 22 kW.

The most common are fast chargers that provide 50 kW which are shown in dark blue on the map. Superfast chargers (HPC - High Power Chargers) are chargers that give an effect from 100 kW up to 350 kW. Chargers with power over 100 kW are shown with a purple marker on the charging map.

Tesla and Ionity are visualized on the map with its icon for respective networks.

Updated content with high quality

ChargeFinder is continuously updated with new charging stations from the larger charging networks, individual smaller players and a variety of other data sources. The information is continuously supplemented and refined with the help of ambassadors and our growing community.

If a station is missing from the charging map, it is easy for anyone to add. It is also possible to edit and update information on all existing stations.

The combination of real-time data, a dedicated team and engaged users is what together creates high quality of our content.

ChargeFinder is where you are

Our ambition is to be available on all platforms and in all formats. ChargeFinder works with a modern browser on all types of devices and screen sizes.

ChargeFinder is available as an app for iOS and Android . Download the app from Apple App Store or Google Play .

ChargeFinder will eventually also be available as apps in Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Android Automotive.

Charging stations in cities

Specific city pages provide a good overview of charging stations in a particular city. For larger cities like Los Angeles , New York , San Francisco and Seattle you can find more information about charging stations.

Search for a city and you will land on a page for that particular city. City pages are available for both larger and smaller cities.

With a simple click, you can share a link to a city page with your friends and on social media. Or why not add a link from your own website.

Outlets/plugs and map filters

CCS is the European standard for fast charging and Type 2 for destination charging. Type 2 and CCS are combined in the same connector and is therefore often called CCS / Combo. CHAdeMO is a standard for fast charging which is mainly found on Asian car brands. Often offered both CCS and CHAdeMO on fast chargers, but CCS will dominate in Europe to come.

Tesla previously had its own standard, but is switching to CCS successively. In Europe, Tesla's v3 Superchargers are built with CCS only. So far, only Tesla's cars can charge at Superchargers.

Filters on the map make it easier to find the right one. Filter on charging speed, free charger, show or hide Tesla chargers and more. Soon there will also be the opportunity to filter on different network or to show what fits a particular car model.

Are there free charging stations near me or what is the charging cost?

Using your gps and our smart filters you can easily find the nearest free charging station for your car. For those that are not free or have paid parking you can read about this in the comments.

Price information is available for several charging networks and is updated regularly. In some countries, price information is already available for most charging stations, while in other countries we are working on adding prices for more networks.

If you have information about prices where this is missing for a certain operator or network, feel free to send us an e-mail and we will make sure to update.

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All estimates listed are estimated and may not be 100% precise. Service brands are trademarks of their respective owners, and we are not affiliated with them. All rights reserved. Read our privacy policy. 2023 © AmpTrip - EV Trip Planner

Plan longer electric journeys

Use our EV route planner to see where to stop on longer routes, what's available in those areas, and how long you’ll need to charge.

Find the best route for your car

With our ev route planner.

Zapmap’s route planner provides peace of mind and the confidence to drive any length of journey in your EV. With access to the widest choice of charging options and real-time availability status, our route planner helps you plot a journey that’s tailored to your needs, whether it’s a family adventure or a solo mission.

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Zapmap Premium

With a number of ways to quickly locate charge points tailored to your needs, Zapmap Premium helps you drive smarter. On top of filters for new charge points and multi-charger locations, Premium gets Zapmap into your in-car dashboard via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This means you can locate suitable charge points, view live charge point status and access route plans - all while on the move. What's more, with Premium you can save unlimited filters, route plans and EV models.

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Plan the ultimate road trip in your electric vehicle using Chargeseeker.

Choose your starting point and destination and Chargeseeker will plan your route, including recommended stops at EV charging stations plus nearby points of interest, such as: Cafés, Restaurants, Shopping, Pharmacies, Accommodations, Attractions, Outdoor Activities

Screenshots

Enjoy a cup of coffee, explore local shops, parks and attractions or grab a bite to eat while your vehicle charges nearby. Customizable filters and preferences ensure that each route is tailored to your needs.

Featuring EV stations from major EV charging networks, Chargeseeker allows users to filter by connection type, including:

Tesla Supercharger

J-1722 (type 1).

How To Plan an EV Road Trip With Google Maps' Charging Feature

Your EV’s built-in Google Maps app is designed to keep you charged.

For electric vehicles with Google Maps installed, road trips have become a lot easier. The popular navigation app can now manage vehicle charging along your route, meaning you won’t have to stress over making it to a station before your battery runs out.

What can Google Maps do?

Multiple modern EVs — like models from Volvo , Polestar , GM, and possibly even Rivian — come preinstalled with a specialized version of Google Maps that can directly tap into the vehicle’s systems to keep track of your trip.

Maps works directly with compatible EVs to keep track of your vehicle’s battery levels, energy usage, and other metrics to make sure you don’t run out of battery halfway through your journey. With this, Maps can also predict what your battery will be upon arrival.

Specifically, the app will generate real-time estimates of your remaining battery on arrival, and if you’re predicted to run out of power before reaching your destination, the app will prompt you to pick a charging stop to add to your route. If you need to stop more than once, the app will automatically add the necessary charging stops across the route, and these stops will be calculated into your trip duration.

Recently added Google Maps features focusing on charging will also help you find the right station to juice your EV at. The update allows users to look at a more detailed AI-generated description of where chargers are located (i.e. Enter the underground parking lot and follow the signs toward the exit. Just before exiting, turn right.) Hopefully, those summaries are accurate — AI has a habit of hallucinating information, and the last thing you need is to wander aimlessly in a parking garage looking for a charger.

The summaries should be rolling out to all Google Maps users in the coming months.

In addition to charger location summaries, Google Maps now shows nearby chargers on the in-car map and gives you real-time data on whether the charger is in use and charging speeds.

How do you access Google Maps’ EV charging feature?

Google Maps’ charging features are available for EVs like those made by Volvo which have Maps integrated into the car’s onboard computer.

Most of these features will engage automatically while driving, meaning you don’t have to do anything unless prompted to (like adding a charging station to your route when Google detects that you’ll need it).

However, searching for charging stations is pretty simple:

• Tap the “Search” button, and the search menu should open.
• Then, search for charging stations.
• From here, you’ll be presented with a series of filters to narrow down your search.
• You can search by charger type, payment network, or charging speed — including a filter for “very fast” speed that only shows 150 - 350kW chargers.

You can also manually add a charging station when creating a route:

• Search for a destination, and create a route
• Once the route has been generated, there should be a button labeled “Add charging stop”
• Tap this button, and select a charging station along the route.

Along with this, Maps’ voice recognition can be used to perform most of these functions without having to use a touchscreen while driving.

Currently, Google has not added an equivalent to the mobile version of Google Maps. However, the app can still be used to find electric charging stations. This can be done by typing in “electric charging station” into Maps — the same way you would search for a gas station — which will then show multiple stations in your area.

Tapping on these locations will provide additional information, including charging speeds, charger types, and availability of each.

However, because the mobile version of Google Maps can’t connect directly to an EV, it isn’t able to collect any information on battery levels or usage. As a result, it can’t accurately add charging stops to any trips.

This article was originally published on April 17, 2023

How to find EV charging stations on a road trip

There are more electric vehicles on the road than ever before—here are a few resources to help you locate charging stations around the U.S.

By Tony Huang & Roadtrippers

Electric vehicles are not only here to stay—they’re the future of road travel. With companies like Tesla pioneering the EV movement, expect to see other major car companies follow suit. Even car rental companies like Hertz now offer EV rentals with Tesla vehicles. 

With more EVs on the road, you may wonder if the infrastructure exists to charge all of these cars. If you’ve ever visited a Tesla Supercharger station in Los Angeles around rush hour, you’ll see a line of cars waiting to charge. 

If the thought of waiting to charge your vehicle is a turn-off, fret not—you’ll be surprised at your options. Don’t set your expectations too high; progress is being made, but electric vehicle charging is still not as convenient as it could be. Here are a few resources to help you navigate charging your electric vehicle on a road trip.

Related: Interested in buying an EV? Here’s where to start and what to look for

Types of EV chargers 

There are three levels of RV charging: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 (which includes Tesla’s Superchargers and DC fast chargers). Always look for the highest level of charging available, since these will charge your vehicle faster. 

Some of the more common charging networks include Tesla , ChargePoint , Electrify America , Blink , and EVgo . If you’re a frequent user of one specific network, signing up for a membership can mean discounts and/or easier payment.

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla’s proprietary charging network is the best-developed charging infrastructure in the U.S. Superchargers range from 75 kilowatts (kW) V1 chargers to 120kW and 150kW V2 chargers, all the way up to beastly 250kW V3 chargers. Rates vary by location, but you can find out the cost by selecting the charger on your Tesla screen.

• Very fast charging. 
• It takes roughly 20 minutes to increase your battery from 20 to 80 percent with a V2 or V3 charger. V1 chargers are older and typically found at shopping malls, so customers can charge while they shop. 
• There’s a vast network of Superchargers scattered throughout the U.S. 

Cons: 

• Superchargers can only be used by Teslas.
• Fast-charging any type of battery can cause degradation.

Level 3 or DC fast charger

Outside of Tesla’s Supercharger network, DC fast chargers are the fastest available charging option. These can provide up to 250 miles of range in 1 hour, and can typically get your battery level to about 80 percent in 30 to 60 minutes. 

• Charges your battery quickly. 
• DC fast chargers are typically used for long-distance driving and can be found at gas stations and along highway corridors.
• These high-voltage direct current chargers are expensive to purchase and typically cannot be installed at home.

Level 2 chargers are commonly found in public and commercial spaces and in more remote locations. A full charge can take about 8 hours, so these are suitable for overnight charging (for example at a hotel) or during the workday. 

• Abundant network—you’ll find them in most cities.
• Some are free to use; these are normally found at hotels or businesses with designated EV parking spots.
• Chargers are typically located near shopping centers or at workplaces, so you can charge while running errands or working.
• Can be installed at home.
• Slower charging; it can take a long time to get to a full charge. 

Level 1 is the slowest type of charging—a full charge can take up to 24 hours (or more). However, charging can typically be done using a regular 120-volt household outlet and an adapter for your car, which makes this a widely available charging type that can be used at home or as an emergency backup.

Pros: 

• Can be done from home, using a regular wall outlet. 
• Works well for hybrid EVs, since these have smaller batteries.
• Very slow—it only adds about 3 to 5 miles of range per hour.

How to find EV chargers

Now that we’ve identified the types of EV chargers out there, how do you find them?

• PlugShare is a community-backed app where other EV drivers can leave feedback and report broken chargers on listings. It shows all available chargers near your location as well as the price of charging. It’ll also show you what adapters you’ll need based on the vehicle you’re driving. 
• Roadtrippers lists EV chargers along your route . Since you’re already mapping out your trip, you can conveniently add stops at chargers along the way.
• Your car’s built-in navigation system can help you find chargers near your location or along your route.
• You can also search for chargers on Google Maps. 

EV charging at campgrounds and national parks

As EVs increase in popularity, so is car camping with an EV. Campgrounds and national parks are starting to meet this demand by offering their own chargers. 

Most campgrounds with RV campsites offer electric hookups, meaning that you can plug your car into the 120-volt or 240-volt outlets. National parks are starting to integrate more EV chargers as part of the Green Parks plan, and state parks are also starting to expand their EV charging station offerings. 

According to the Edison Electric Institute , it’s estimated that there will be more than 18 million EVs on the road by 2030. As part of the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law , nearly $5 billion will be dedicated to building out a national EV charging network over 5 years. Although EV charging isn’t as reliable as filling up at a gas station yet, it’s becoming easier and more available. In the meantime, rest assured you won’t have much difficulty charging your vehicle as long as you use supporting apps and plan your route accordingly. 

Related: EV-friendly camping is easier than you think

Meet the Authors

Traveling and living out of a Tesla Model Y with my pup. Follow our adventure on YouTube and Instagram.

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Roadtrippers helps you find the most epic destinations and detours—from roadside attractions to natural wonders and beyond.

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EV Trip Planner -‌  Charging Stations, Routes and Tolls

Looking for EV routing on Google Maps? Use the EV Trip Planner! See all the EV charging stations and superchargers on map with details – brand, connector type, level, cost, power feed, access time and contact. Also see toll plazas, tags – E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, TxTag -l discounts. Travel on the cheapest or fastest routes to your destination. For Tesla, Chevy Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Leaf etc. across the US and Canada toll roads, turnpikes, expressways, express lanes, highways, bridges, and tunnels.

Business? Integrate Toll API for pre-trip, on-trip and post-trip toll and route information.

Still not convinced? Just enter your origin, destination, Submit and see tolls in seconds. Fill the optional fields - mileage, toll tags etc. - to get more accurate results.

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• Power feed type
• Access time & contact
• Cheapest and Fastest routes
• Reorder stops (Traveling salesman problem)
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• Toll rate for each plaza

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How to Get the Most Out of EV Features in Google Maps

Google Maps has heaps of features for EV users, so you'll never run out of juice again.

Quick Links

• Know How Many Charging Stations Are Free for Use
• Know the Power Capacity of Charging Stations
• Choose Charging Stations That Suit Your EV
• Find Exactly Where a Charging Station Is Located
• See Nearby Charging Stations When Your Battery Is Low
• Plan Your Stops on a Road Trip

Key Takeaways

• Google Maps provides info on the availability & power capacity of charging stations to ease EV trip planning.
• Choose the right charging station with the correct plug type for your EV to avoid issues.
• Utilize Google Maps & EV apps to plan road trips, extending battery life & ensuring a smooth journey.

With precise navigation and increased flexibility when planning long road trips, Google Maps' new features for EVs should make planning your next trip much more convenient.

At the very least, you won't worry about running out of charge!

1 Know How Many Charging Stations Are Free for Use

Electric vehicles have increased greatly in popularity since the first one rolled out of the factory, and so have their numbers. So much so, in fact, that they far outnumber the charging stations built for them.

If you’re not sure whether a particular charging station has charging ports free or in use, you can now find out before you travel there. Just look up a charging station directly to see how many charging bays are open.

It’s best to have this information before you plan your route to the closest charging station because they might be in use for a while.

2 Know the Power Capacity of Charging Stations

The higher the power output of an EV charging station, the faster you can charge your car. So, when searching for a bay to plug into, make sure you’re looking at the power capacity, too.

Just tap a particular option from the available charging stations on the map to take a look at the capacity that it offers.

Be wary, though, of using a station that is over-powered for your car, because DC fast-charging can affect your EV’s battery .

3 Choose Charging Stations That Suit Your EV

Now that electric vehicles have caught on, there is more diversity than before. It’s not just a number of auto-makers and battery types we are seeing; this diversity is also found in the plug design used for charging an electric car.

There’s no use getting to a charging station only to find that it doesn’t have the right kind of charger for your model. But you can choose the plug type your EV uses in Google Maps to filter out those stations that aren’t helpful.

• When looking for a charging station on Google Maps, click on the Any plugs option toward the top-right.
• Click on the Add plugs button.
• Choose the plug that fits into your EV from the list. You’ll see just those stations offering that specific plug type.

4 Find Exactly Where a Charging Station Is Located

It’s not always easy to find a charging station, even if you’ve narrowed down its general location. EV charging stations often have their own designated areas in parking lots and multi-level parking garages, making them difficult to locate precisely.

Google Maps will use AI to help in this regard. It will scour millions of user reviews to give you exact directions to a charging station.

The AI built into Google Maps might even encourage you to provide more information about your experience, including the type of plug you used and your wait time, so that this may benefit others looking for a spot to charge their cars.

5 See Nearby Charging Stations When Your Battery Is Low

If you have Google built into your EV, you might be surprised to see nearby charging stations showing up on the in-car map. This is perfect for when your battery is running low, and you need to quickly pick the closest charger to top up.

This in-map intel will also provide details in real-time on the number of ports available and their charging speed. Based on location and power, pick the station that suits your charging needs.

Driving on a battery that’s close to running out is not a good position to be in. Extend your EV's battery life by taking care of it properly.

6 Plan Your Stops on a Road Trip

Planning a long road trip with an electric vehicle can get complicated. Their limited range and lengthy charging times (compared with gas-powered cars) mean stops can be more frequent and longer, a challenge that may lead to a return to less eco-friendly options.

But if you have Google built-in, this should be much simpler. Plan a multi-stop trip, and Maps will suggest the best charging locations based on your battery level. Use this information in conjunction with the EV filter on Google Travel to find hotels with on-site EV charging.

Another way to get the most out of a long road trip is to get yourself a few excellent EV apps to plan your route .

If you have an EV, be sure to use all Google Maps’ resources at your disposal to plan long trips and find the right charging station when your car is almost out of juice. Your time on the road just got a little easier.

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Electrify America and Trip Planning: How To Travel Effectively

Is there anything more American than an annual road trip? The fact is that to get from A to B by car in much of America means a bit of a road trip compared to smaller countries like the UK. When you’re preparing to undertake a road trip in an electric car, trip planning becomes more important than ever.

You always have to plan, of course, preparing enough food and water, knowing where you can stop and sleep overnight if need be, and also places to make pit-stops on the way to recharge yourself. If you’re driving an electric car, these become literal recharging stops, and they need very careful planning. For that, a lot of people already rely on the Electrify America app, but while it’s perhaps one of the best-known EV charge point apps out there, it has been dismissed by some as inadequate for proper road trip planning.

In today’s blog, we’ll be assessing the functions of Electrify America, as well as its shortcomings, and what other options are on offer for those who want something more suited to their own EV.

Background: About Electrify America

Electrify America is a large and growing network of public DC fast chargers and level 2 charging stations, owned and operated by Volkswagen. Despite its ownership, you by no means have to own a Volkswagen ID.4 in order to gain access! It’s open to all EVs, but Tesla owners will have to be ready to use their adapters.

At the time of writing, and according to the Electrify America website , the organization operates 791 stations, running 3,435 fast chargers, as well as another 116 level 2 chargers. Among the fast chargers are CCS and CCS-CHAdeMO connectors. Most stations are concentrated in the northeast, Florida, and California, with other stations generally following major highway routes across the midwest, southwest, and Pacific northwest. 

The Electrify America App: A Review

Next, let’s take a look at the Electrify America app itself. It’s free to download and available on both Android and iOS platforms. No payment method is required when creating an account, just your first and last name. But you will need to add a card as a payment method when you start to use it for charging. It does offer some paid/premium features, too, which we will cover in more detail in sections below.

Main Functions

Below is a summary of the main features one can find within the app:

• Premium plans with discounts on charging, contactless payment ability, and more
• Live, up-to-date charging locations nearby with availability
• Notifications when charging points become available
• Charge tracking from your smartphone after the process begins
• Home charger management with preferred charge time management 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration

Strong Points

The chief advantage of Electrify America over other apps is in its ability to give strong amounts of detail when it comes to nearby chargers. Unlike apps such as Google Maps, which will tell you locations of chargers, Electrify America gives you a lot more about their status, exact location within certain premises, and condition.

In addition, you can get the majority of the key features without having to subscribe to any payment plans. Even if you do opt for a payment plan, they start at just $4.00 a month (Pass+). You might wonder about spending monthly premiums when you’re paying for charging services anyway, but a Pass+ membership actually gives you up to 25 percent discount, which makes it very worthwhile for regular chargers.

Finally, being able to easily integrate it with your Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions also makes life a lot easier for users, meaning you don’t have to be looking at your smartphone the whole time and get the information safely while on the road.

Weak Points

One of the chief criticisms leveled against Electrify America is that while it presents itself as a uniquely “all-in-one” app, its features are neither unique nor all-encompassing as one might hope. For one thing, it lacks a useful trip planning feature for longer journeys, which in a country like America seems like a pretty big omission. Fans of the app defend it by pointing out that it is built primarily for local use only, and not for road trippers, but with an engaging, wide-reaching name like “Electrify America,” why not consider America more widely, including road trippers?

Furthermore, those who don’t use the app and instead favor their own vehicle app platform such as the Ford Pass app, for example, have found that Electrify America locations are frequently not added in time, leaving key gaps in their own maps and planners. Whether this is entirely down to Electrify America or whether it’s more Ford’s fault isn’t entirely clear, but it all seems to contribute to the fact that Electrify America doesn’t feature in virtually any list of “Best Apps for Route Planning.”

Payment options are affordable with Electrify America, but you are forced to pay the fee if you want to access the best features. This might be expected for some, but when you’re already paying for the fundamental service being offered by them, it seems a little unfair not to have more premium features available for free.

What Other Journey Planning EV Apps Are Available?

Typically topping the list of recommended journey planning apps is Tesla’s own app that its owners use every day. The main advantage of Tesla is its own massive Supercharger network, currently offering some 1,500 locations across all 50 states and even 2 overseas territories. While superchargers are concentrated in similar locations to Electrify America stations, they are still more common, and are even now starting to roll out plans to allow non-Tesla cars to use them.

The journey planning feature on the app allows you to plot every supercharger station you’ll need to stop at along the way and how to break up the journey. It also features Tesla’s other great in-house features like instant calls for roadside assistance.

The best thing about the EV Hotels app is that it’s focused on accommodation spots rather than just charging stations. Knowing where Tesla Superchargers are is great, but what this app does is point to hotels and other accommodations that come with their very own charging points. This means you can plan your trip killing two birds with one stone at every major stop — where to charge overnight, and where to sleep.

A Better Route Planner (ABRP)

An interesting quirk about ABRP is that it lets you program in your car make and model, which is then taken into account for the journey ahead, using more precise data. If you’re using it in your Tesla, you can even share your drive data with it to improve its accuracy even further. It also tells you which routes to avoid, and keeps you informed on traffic, road, and weather conditions ahead.

Google Maps

Google Maps is a great choice chiefly because of how familiar most people are with the system already, having been using Google Maps in some form or another for many years. The main drawback with Google Maps is that while it does have a route planning feature that Electrify America lacks, it also lacks the detail that Electrify America offers. Having said that, it’s easy to use, familiar, and requires no payments at all for the service of route planning or locating charging stations.

General Tips for Long-Distance EV Road Trips

Let’s say you are planning for a long-distance road trip in your electric car, Tesla or otherwise. What are some useful tips that can help you on your way?

We’ve pretty much covered this in the above points, but it’s good to emphasize the importance of planning when you’re taking an electric car on an extended road trip. The thing is, the way things are currently, the country just can’t cater to EVs in the same way that it can to regular gasoline cars. Not only do gasoline cars typically have a range advantage, but they have an extreme flexibility advantage, too, given that there are gas stations large and small to be found all over the place.

EV drivers will have to stick more to their plans, and probably deviate a lot less. Mistakes in planning could easily lead to your becoming stranded, and that’s no fun. So, however experienced you are in road trip planning, if it’s your first time doing it in an EV, then spend some extra time and attention on it.

Make Contingency Plans

Following on from the previous point, it’s also critical that you make more detailed backup plans for if and when things go wrong. Keep estimates on range conservative, and always plan to stop and charge earlier than you would need to according to those range numbers. Have a “plan B” for every eventuality. It takes more planning, but until the infrastructure is really there for EVs, it’s necessary to play on the side of caution.

Minimize Energy Waste

During your road trip, try not to burn up too much juice through things like bad driving habits. Being too aggressive with the throttle and brake, for example, is an excellent way to drain the battery too quickly. Drive at steady speeds, and don’t overtax the battery.

Charge to Full Before Departure

Charging to full is something that most EV experts tell you not to do, but when getting ready to set off on a long road trip, it is one of the times when you are actually supposed to charge to full. Equally, you shouldn’t let the battery completely deplete while out on the road. It’s bad for the battery chemistry to combine full charging and full discharge, so try to hit your next recharge stop when you get to about 20 percent or below, and before you hit 10 percent.

Don’t Overload the Car

Finally, as another measure to save energy, don’t overload the car with too much gear. It’s a road trip, we understand, so there’s bound to be supplies aplenty, but try not to pack too much superfluous gear. Electric cars are heavy enough without all your useless gear weighing down even more and taxing the battery even further.

Happy road tripping! Plan well and all good things will come to you!

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The Ultimate Guide to EV Road Trip Planning

By: Lindsey Perkins

 | 

Published: 05.08.2024

While it can be scary to try something new, there’s some comfort in knowing you’re not the first person to take a road trip across the U.S. in an EV. In fact, people have been doing it for more than 10 years. If you have any anxiety, just take a deep breath and give yourself some credit for researching this topic in the first place.

We asked EV drivers across the country and our staff for their best tips to compile this comprehensive resource for first-time EV road-trippers and those interested in learning how the experience differs from gasoline-powered cars.

Before you leave

Download and set up your planning and charging apps..

In addition to using their vehicle’s navigation system, EV drivers swear by A Better Route Planner (ABRP), which you can use on a browser or download as an app on your phone. As the name suggests, ABRP creates a route for you based on your vehicle’s make and model, starting state of charge, and charging station preferences. It is a robust tool that every EV driver should have in their arsenal, especially since it is free.

PlugShare is another beloved app. Like ABRP, it can also be accessed by a browser. PlugShare provides information about plug compatibility, but its superpower lies in its ability to provide information in real time about whether chargers are working properly. It is crowd-sourced similar to Waze, and users leave reviews, photos and comments about their experience at the charger.

Google Maps has also improved and often does the trick for finding charging along your route, according to some drivers, while PlugShare confirms chargers’ functionality.

You’ll also need to download apps from the major charging networks, depending on which ones you’ll visit. A few of these are Electrify America (not to be confused with us, Plug In America), EVgo, and ChargePoint. Get your method of payment set up, so you don’t have to do it on the fly. That way, a weak internet connection won’t frustrate you on the road.

One tip from our staff: If you’re looking for a charger in a specific location, you can double-check the charging network apps, as it may take some time for their newer chargers to show up on PlugShare.

Plan out your route.

Using your car’s navigation system, A Better Route Planner, or Google Maps, chart out your drive and look at the possible charger options. Keep in mind that weather and road conditions may cause you to charge sooner or be able to go farther, just like in a gas-powered vehicle. Conditions that mean you might need to charge earlier in your journey include freezing temperatures, a strong headwind, and climbing elevations. Conversely, temperate weather, a tailwind, and downhill driving may propel you further on a single charge.

We recommend charging when your battery reaches a state of charge of roughly 20%. That way you will have a cushion in case of emergencies.

Book a place to stay with charging if possible.

This could be Level 1 charging at a friend’s place, Level 2 charging at a hotel or short-term rental, or an EV-friendly campground you can plug into with an adapter. Charging where you stay overnight lets you save time and money. Plus, it’s always great to wake up to a full charge. However, it’s completely doable to road trip in an EV if you don’t stay at a place with an outlet. Many of our staff, board, and supporters have done it.

Call the day before to check the status of your accommodations’ chargers. 

Since chargers are used frequently, sometimes they break. If there’s no recent info on PlugShare about the chargers at your lodging, consider calling to find out if all chargers are working. That way you’ll know in advance if you need to consider other charging options before you arrive.

Get any adapters that you might need

If you drive a non-Tesla and your manufacturer now offers access to the Tesla charging network , try to get an adapter before your trip. The ability to access the Tesla network will give you a lot more options on the road.

Start your trip with a full battery.

For those who have access to a home charger, leaving your home with a 90% to 95% state of charge gets your trip started on the right foot.

On the road

Monitor your speed. .

If you follow the speed limit, keep doing that. If you fudge the speed limit, be aware that driving at higher speeds reduces your available range—just like it does in a gas car.

If you ever find yourself low on range, the number one thing you can do is slow down to make it to your destination. Turning off the air conditioning or heat will not save you significant range; driving slower will.

While driving, only charge up to 80% or whatever is needed to get to the next charger.

Don’t try to charge to 100% if you’re fast charging. The last 20% takes a long time and isn’t worth the wait, just like with cellphone batteries. When you pour water in a glass, you start off with a rush of water into the glass and slow to a trickle by the end. Charging an EV is similar, which means charging the last 20% of the battery takes a lot longer. If you plug in at an overnight stop or a longer daytime stop on Level 1 or 2 charging, that’s when it makes more sense to charge to 95%.

For those who think in terms of miles, here’s how this translates: If your vehicle has an EPA range of 300 miles, expect to stop around every 200 miles. Remember, you are only charging to 80% and probably don’t want to get close to zero.

This may be one of the largest adjustments in the transition from a gas car to an EV. Some drivers prefer to stop more often, drive faster, and then spend less time at each station. Others like to get to 80% and go longer in between stops. You’ll find out your preference once you’re on the road.

Pay attention to the weather. 

You may notice your battery is losing charge slower than you expected if you’re driving with the assistance of a tailwind. The opposite is also true–you may need to make one more charging stop if you’re driving into the wind or other weather system. This applies to EVs just like gas cars.

Consider grabbing food before or while you stop to charge.

If the charger isn’t by any restaurants or eateries you prefer, use a drive-through en route so you can eat in your car. If sit-down restaurants are near the fast charger, you may decide to charge longer before you “fill up” your car again.

Know how fast your car actually can charge using a fast charger. 

You’ll want to know your max charge rate based on vehicle capability. For example, most Chevy Bolts cannot take advantage of the faster charger rates of many Electrify America charging ports. The Bolt’s max charge rate is 55 kW, while Electrify America’s ports are 150 kW or 350 kW.

As a result, as a courtesy, you should go to chargers that best match your onboard rate for the most efficient use of resources for everyone. That said, in a pinch, it’s understandable if you’re running close to 0% and the only open charger is a 150 kW station.

Look at charging breaks with an open mind.

Many drivers have reported that charging breaks help split up the drive and make it more enjoyable. You have to stop anyway to use the restroom or eat. Depending on the charger’s speed, your vehicle might be done charging before you’re finished eating.

If it’s still going, some people find they like to have a few extra minutes to stretch a bit, meditate, or take a short walk. Others like to talk to other drivers if they are around to get tips or learn about other vehicles. The journey can be part of the adventure.

Have a backup plan. 

Some of us are planners at heart, which means we prefer to know what our options are if a hotel charger is broken or the outlet at the Airbnb is too far away. That way, an unexpected circumstance is a minor inconvenience rather than a crisis.

Charging etiquette

Avoid leaving your car plugged in after it’s reached its maximum charge..

You would hate to arrive at your hotel at midnight to find a car that’s fully charged, occupying the charger you were counting on. Some people leave hang tags on the charging cable with a phone number so others have a way to contact them if someone needs to charge. Also, many fast chargers will charge you extra for idling in charging spots.

Don’t use a charging spot as a parking spot. 

EV charging spots are for active charging, not special parking. In some places, you can even get ticketed for parking in a designated charging spot. When you’re done charging, move your vehicle, so other EV drivers can top up.

Don’t park on the lines in a charging parking spot.

Some of us are less gifted in parking skills, so do your best to park straight and within the lines when you get to a charger. You can make it hard or impossible for others to charge at an open charger if you’re taking up more space than allotted.

Leave the station tidy.

This includes putting trash in trash cans rather than littering, as well as putting the connector cable in its holster.

Contact support if a charging port is broken.

Charging companies can’t fix something if they don’t know about it. You can do this during downtime after you start your charging session.

You’ve got it

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath. It’s common for first-time EV roadtrippers to be nervous. After the first trip or two, we often hear that drivers love driving across the country in their EVs. While it can be scary to do anything for the first time, it can also be exciting–revel in that!

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How to plan an EV road trip

Nothing spells ‘adventure’ quite like the classic American road trip. Picture yourself cruising down the freeway, windows down, jamming to your favorite playlist. You’re excited for the journey that awaits. And, best of all, you’re enjoying every moment of your drive in a smooth, zero-emission electric vehicle.

Most modern EVs can easily cover more than 200 miles on a single charge. Plus, the US has an ever-expanding public charging network , so the days of running out of battery in the middle of nowhere are long gone.

Still, there are a few things that you need to know before you hit the road in your EV rental . From finding charging stations to navigating your route, here are some expert tips on how to plan your upcoming EV road trip.

Why Plan Your EV Road Trip?

If it’s your first time driving an electric vehicle, you might be a little concerned about the learning curve involved. But, moving from a gas-powered vehicle to driving an EV is easy .

Just like any other road trip, a small amount of preparation can go a long way. By planning ahead, you can make sure you always know where your next charging spot is.

There are also plenty of benefits to driving an EV, such as:

• Great performance – Electric vehicles often provide instant acceleration and torque, giving similar – or even better – performance than cars with internal combustion engines.
•   Improved safety – Many EVs come with innovative safety features such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These can alert you to potential hazards on the road. Other modern safety features include automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring.
• Convenience – Compared to traditional automobiles, EVs could be seen as more convenient. An electric car might require only two to three charges for a 600-mile trip. Meanwhile, a gasoline vehicle might require up to four gas station visits for the same distance – and at greater cost, too.
• Low maintenance – EVs don’t have an engine. Instead, they use an electric drive train that requires less maintenance. You won’t have to worry about things like oil changes while on the road.

Choosing the Right EV for Your Road Trip

Before hitting the road, it’s important that you choose an EV that works for you. For example, if you’re going cross-country, then opting for a long-range EV like a Tesla or Chevy Bolt EV  might be a good way to go. These models can easily cover more than 250+ miles on a single full charge, saving you trips to public charging stations.

You may also want to look at other factors such as cargo capacity and space. Are you traveling solo or are you going camping with the family? Depending on your trip type, you might need a more powerful, capable SUV crossover like the Chevrolet Blazer to carry your camping gear, as well as navigate the tough terrain.

At Hertz, we offer a wide range of EVs to match your needs. Choose the right car for you and ensure that your rental car road trip goes ahead without a hitch.

Mapping Out Your Route

Planning your route around both destinations of choice and public charging stations is key to a hassle-free driving experience. It’s a good idea to look for public chargers around expressways, highways, hotels or gas stations. You don’t want to have to call roadside assistance if your battery dies in the middle of nowhere.

As a rule of thumb, give yourself at least a 10% buffer of charge to get you to the next charging station on your route. This will help alleviate any battery anxiety as you embark on your journey.

Scheduling Charging Stops

An electric car’s range is dynamic. This means that factors like how you accelerate, or use features such as climate control, will influence the range of your EV. That’s why it’s important to schedule charging stops along the way .

You can do so by using apps such as PlugShare  or Google Maps to help you plan your route while factoring in the most convenient locations. Alternatively, you could use an EV road trip planner .

DC charging stations are often more potent, allowing you to charge your electric car faster . Many EVs nowadays  can restore up to 80% full battery in less than an hour.

Packing for an EV Road Trip

Sometimes a stop can take a bit longer than initially planned, so it’s best to be prepared. Part of the road trip experience is carrying some goodies along the way. So, you might need to pack some water and snacks – especially if you’re bringing the family along.

Aside from having snacks in the car, you may also need to take some EV essentials with you . Some public AC charging stations might not have charging cables, so it’s always a good idea to carry a type 2 cable in your trunk.

Finally, when planning the essentials, make sure to travel light and only take things that you need to maximize space. Electric vehicles lose range when carrying heavy cargo, so bear this in mind, especially if you’re traveling with a number of passengers.

Ensuring a Safe Journey

Safety is important when planning your EV road trip. Every EV comes with an estimated driving range, or EPA, which helps you map out your route alongside charging stops. However, weather can also significantly impact range and disrupt your route.

All cars, even gasoline vehicles, lose range in cold weather. But this can have a bigger effect on EVs. A study on battery life found that some EVs can lose up to a third of their driving range in colder weather . So, it’s a good idea to stay updated on weather and road conditions along your route.

Making the Most of Your EV Road Trip

Road trips are all about fun and adventure – so why not make the most out of it by exploring our destination pages ? We’ve compiled a list of the more interesting activities for more than 100 locations across the US.

From visiting some of the most compelling tourist sights to trying out local cuisine, we’ll help you make memories for a lifetime. Whether you’re planning to soak in the rich Cajun culture of New Orleans , or bask on the warm sandy beaches of Miami , we’ve got you covered.

Enjoy a fun-filled EV road trip today. We’re all about safety, comfort, and premium luxury.

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Google Maps

Google maps makes it easier to find ev charging stations and see specific roads.

Google Maps is picking up a couple of useful new tricks, at least on Android, that make it easier to find EV charging stations as well as seeing the entirety of a road.

Over the past several years Google Maps has been building out better support for electric vehicles, including more information about charging stations. Just last month, Google announced AI-powered summaries for helping users to locate a charging station . The company also recently added more in-car enhancements for finding charging stations nearby and improvements to route planning with charging stops.

Now, there’s a new tweak arriving on the Google Maps app on your phone.

The latest versions of Google Maps for Android support the ability for the app to show a quick and easy filter for “Charging stations” in place of a previous filter for “Gas” stations. The change seems to have been applied recently and was highlighted by the folks over at SmartDroid .

To see this change, you’ll need to dive into Maps settings and set “Your vehicle” as an electric vehicle. The default is gas.

Google previously made this change in Android Auto last year .

Beyond that, another recent tweak is the ability for the Google Maps mobile app to highlight a full street when you search for it. Previously, Maps would just show the street with a pin, but now it highlights the length of the street in blue. This functionality existed on the web app and through Search, but recent updates have brought it to mobile devices.

More on Google Maps:

• Google Maps redesign back in testing with more changes on Android [Gallery]
• Maps updates Wear OS Tile with direct map shortcut
• Google Maps testing Live Activities on iPhone – here’s what it looks like [Gallery]

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10 Things Nobody Tells You About Charging An EV

• EV charging speeds vary depending on the type of charger used and the state of the battery, with Level 3 DC fast chargers being the fastest.
• Setting up an EV charger at home requires careful planning, such as checking if your home's electrical capacity can support it and obtaining permits.
• Charging an EV at home can be a tedious process, especially with a standard Level 1 charger that offers slow charging speeds, making Level 2 or DC fast chargers essential in most cases.

The automotive industry is moving towards electrification and nothing seems to be able to stand in the way of the EV revolution. With regulations getting tighter, the infrastructure improving at astonishing speeds, and multiple states set to ban the sale of new ICE-powered vehicles in the near future, it won't be long before EVs begin to outnumber gas-powered cars on the road. In fact, the number of EV charging ports will soon outnumber the number of active gas stations in the U.S. Since an electric powertrain is different in every way imaginable from a gas-powered one, its maintenance is a completely different ball game as well.

Even though EVs have much fewer moving parts and require less maintenance in general than ICE-powered vehicles, EVs come with their own set of issues that are becoming apparent as their adoption becomes more widespread. Gone are the days when you had to worry about regular oil changes and engine services. Now you get to worry about battery health and range anxiety, among other things. Charging your EV is near the top of the list, and it may seem as simple as plugging in your car just like you plug in your phone and forget about it, but it is not as simple as it appears, and here are 10 things no one is telling you about EV charging.

Related: 10 Reasons Why Fast Electric Cars Are Overrated

Charging Speeds Can Vary

The speed at which you can charge your EV can vary significantly based on various factors, the most prominent of which is the type of charger you use and the state of the battery when you plug it in. The most basic one is a Level 1 charger that can be plugged into a household outlet, and it offers the slowest charging speeds as low as two to five miles of range per hour of charging.

Level 2 charging requires a dedicated charger and is much faster at 10 to 30 miles of range per hour. A Level 3 DC fast charger is the fastest one, and it can replenish almost 80 percent of your battery in as little as 20 to 30 minutes. The maximum charging speed offered by such a charger also depends on the maximum speed supported by your car, with some new EVs supporting as much as 350 kW .

Setting Up A Charger At Home Requires Careful Planning

In an ideal world, you'd be able to drive your shiny new EV home, plug it into any outlet you want, and charge it up just like your phone or your laptop. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world like that, and setting up a proper EV charger at home is a complex process that presents various challenges.

For starters, you have to make sure your home's electrical capacity can support the additional load of a heavy-duty EV charger. If it doesn't, an upgrade might be necessary before you can consider installing a charger. Getting a permit can be a time-consuming process, especially if you live in a multi-unit building, and it always comes with the looming danger of getting stuck in bureaucracy.

Related: 10 Things Electric Car Owners Keep Quiet About

Charging Your EV At Home Can Be A Tedious Affair

Charging your EV at come can come with a number of challenges to make you pull your hair out. With a standard Level 1 charger, it can take ages to completely charge up your car's battery. On average, a Level 1 charger can provide between 2 and 5 miles of range per hour of charging. To calculate the exact time required to juice up your battery, you need to divide the total capacity by the charging rate of the charger.

For example, even if your car has a relatively small battery capacity of 60 kWh, it would require about 20 hours to charge it up with a Level 1 charger . These types of chargers are only suited for overnight charging, and employing the use of a Level 2 or DC fast charger is essential in most cases.

There Is A Certain Cost Attached To Charging Your EV

Contrary to what many people believe, the cost of charging your EV is not zero. Electricity is more readily available than the fuel used in ICE-powered vehicles, but its cost can vary a lot from area to area. The average cost of electricity in the U.S. is around 10 cents per kWh, and with an average efficiency of three miles per kWh, charging your car at home should cost you about 3.3 cents per mile.

Charging at a commercial fast charger is a lot faster than charging at home, but it can also cost a lot more. The average cost of completely filling up an EV battery from zero to 100 percent is between $10 and $30 under current conditions. Of course, this cost may generally be much less than the cost of filling up your gas tank, but there are other expenses associated with it.

Related: 10 Reasons To Buy An Electric Vehicle In 2023

Charging Habits Can Make Or Break Your Battery's Health

Just like any other electric battery, charging habits can greatly influence the health and performance of your EVs battery. While it may seem very convenient to plug your car's battery in and out at your leisure, EV batteries can cost an arm and a leg you'll probably want to do everything you can to prolong your battery's lifespan.

This includes making sure you don't always charge your battery at the fastest rate possible and strain it with excess heat and avoiding frequent deep discharges since completely discharging your battery regularly can stress it out. Charging frequency is also important, since extreme temperature fluctuations and leaving the battery fully charged for extended batteries can degrade your battery faster. EVs are getting more high-tech every day, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't make use of the best charging practices available.

Not All Charging Stations Are The Same

EV charging stations represent a burgeoning business, and an increasing number of players are eager to have a piece of the pie. These charging stations can vary significantly in their capabilities and services rendered, with some of them offering only Level 2 charging while others offer faster solutions like Level 3 DC fast charging. Tesla is the first name that springs to mind with its vast Supercharger network that it is opening to EVs made by other manufacturers as well , and others like Electrify America are hard at work expanding the public fast-charger network.

In fact, this even prompted seven automakers to join forces to create a charging network to increase the reach of EVs and make them even more feasible. The future of EV charging stations looks bright, but it is important to pick one that is compatible with your own vehicle and won't damage your battery in the long run.

Related: 10 Cheapest Electric Vehicles With Over 300 Miles Of Range

Public EV Charging Stations Require Some Etiquette

While being a decent human being is important at any type of public refueling station, EV charging stations come with their own set of unwritten rules. EVs can take a lot longer to charge than it takes to fill up a gas tank, and practicing 'charge and move' behavior is extremely important. The charging station is not your personal parking spot, and you should be promptly moving on so you don't inconvenience others.

Leaving the charger in the same condition you found it is also important, and leaving the cord hanging is just plain uncivilized. Worst of all, though, is ' ICEing' , or parking a gas-powered car in an EV charging spot. These rules aren't rocket science, and every car owner should be able to follow them.

Your Charging Stop Could Become The Most Important Part Of Planning Your Road Trip

Imagine this: you meticulously plan your road trip with your friends or family in your fancy new EV, mapping out every charted course and ensuring you get to that all-important spot just before sunset. You depart, excited to see what the journey has in store for you. Along the way, you realize that you did not take into account the 40 minutes it would take to replenish your car's battery, and the golden hour comes and goes as you explain to your passengers how EVs are still the future of the automotive industry.

If the above scenario seems like nightmare fuel to you, you should know that planning your charging stops is about to become an integral part of your trips from now on. Manufacturers are already coming up with new and innovative ways to change that, though, and battery swapping is one of them .

Related: How Tesla Sparked The Most Unlikely Automotive Alliance Ever

Range Anxiety Is Real And Terrifying

The EV revolution is bringing its own set of automotive problems, and range anxiety is top of them. It's no secret that EVs last much less than ICE-powered vehicles in terms of the distance they can travel on one full charge, and range anxiety is a significant concern for many drivers.

The EV charging network is still not as widespread as the conventional gas station network, and availability in remote areas can limit your travel plans. Or, ima gine you hit a charging station and it's not functio nal! On the bright side, EV tech is progressing in leaps and bounds, and there are cars that can go more than 400 miles on a single charge already, meaning range anxiety could become a thing of the past very soon.

Owning An EV Charging Station Is Much Different From Owning A Gas Station

On a slightly different yet related note, owning and operating a gas station may not be the most profitable business, but it is a business nevertheless. As the automotive industry shifts towards electrification, it may seem like the perfect time to cash into the EV charging station industry, but investing in one as a business opportunity is a very different affair. Regulations around them are changing every day and even though the EV market is growing at a very fast pace, people's EV charging habits are much different than their refueling habits.

any people charge at home or at work, and the reduced cost of electricity means margins are even smaller than those you would get by owning a gas station. No one can say for sure what the industry will look like a few years from now, but you might want to consider your options carefully before dipping your toes, and your hard-earned dollars, in this line of work.

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Tesla Pullback Puts Onus on Others to Build Electric Vehicle Chargers

The automaker led by Elon Musk is no longer planning to take the lead in expanding the number of places to fuel electric vehicles. It’s not clear how quickly other companies will fill the gap.

By Jack Ewing and Ivan Penn

Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, blindsided competitors, suppliers and his own employees this week by reversing course on his aggressive push to build electric vehicle chargers in the United States, a major priority of the Biden administration.

Mr. Musk’s decision to lay off the 500-member team responsible for installing charging stations, and to sharply slow investment in new stations, baffled the industry and raised doubts about whether the number of public chargers would grow fast enough to keep pace with sales of battery-powered cars. It put the onus on other charging companies, raising questions about whether they can build fast enough to address a shortage that appears to be discouraging some people from buying electric cars.

As the owner of the largest charging network in the United States, Tesla has a powerful effect on people’s views of electric cars.

“There is certainly a psychological component,” said Robert Zabors, a senior partner at Roland Berger, a consulting firm. “Availability and reliability are critical to overall E.V. adoption.”

Tesla’s change of direction, only days after it had told shareholders in a securities filing that it would “rapidly” expand its charging network, which it calls Supercharger, is likely to delay construction of fast chargers, which are concentrated along the two coasts and in parts of Texas.

Wildflower, a New York real estate developer, was on the verge of signing a lease with Tesla to build a charging center near the intersection of Interstates 278 and 495 in Queens. Then Adam Gordon, the firm’s managing partner, got a text message from the Tesla executive he had been working with.

“‘Hey, I was fired at 4 a.m. and my boss was fired too,’” the Tesla manager said, according to Mr. Gordon. “That was the only communication we got from Tesla,” he added.

Another charging company is likely to take over the site, which has a permit to obtain power, Mr. Gordon said. But Tesla’s withdrawal will inevitably delay the project.

No other company has as much experience and expertise as Tesla in installing charging stations, which range from a handful of plugs in the corner of parking lots to dozens of them at dedicated sites, often along highways.

The automaker accounts for 25,500 of the 42,000 fast chargers installed in the United States, according to federal government data . A fast charger can top up an electric-car battery in 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the car and the charger. There are about 132,000 slower public chargers that can fully recharge electric cars in roughly eight to 12 hours.

Tesla began building its Supercharger stations in 2012 to give owners of the Model S sedan a place to fuel on road trips. Buyers of its earlier model, the Roadster sports car, charged primarily at home.

Other companies may not be able to build chargers as quickly or as cheaply as Tesla, said Daniel Bowermaster, senior manager of electric transportation at the Electric Power Research Institute, a nonprofit group in Palo Alto, Calif., where Tesla once had its headquarters.

“There is significant opportunity, kind of regardless of what Tesla does,” Mr. Bowermaster said. “It will be addressed by the market. How do they do it in a timely, cost-effective manner?”

But some in the industry say Tesla won’t be missed as much as it would have been a few years ago. Government subsidies and private capital are fueling a surge in charger construction that does not depend on Tesla: The number of public fast chargers in the United States increased by nearly 11,000, or about 36 percent, from April 2023 to April 2024.

“The public charging experience is going to get easier,” said Peter Slowik, an auto expert at the International Council on Clean Transportation, a research organization. “I don’t think the charging market and the electric vehicle market is slowing down because of Tesla.”

Tesla manufactures charging hardware for Supercharger stations at a factory in Buffalo, which was necessary a few years ago when there weren’t many suppliers. Since then, many companies have begun selling charging equipment, and the technology has become standardized.

Last year, virtually all major automakers selling cars in North America agreed to use the charging plug developed by Tesla starting in 2025, reducing complexity. Electric cars in Europe and China rely on standards different from the one used by Tesla in North America.

Tesla’s pullback “is a normal step of a market professionalization,” said Jörg Heuer, chief executive of EcoG, a firm in Munich that provides charging software.

Mr. Musk did not explain his rationale for cutting back on charger construction, but some analysts said he had probably concluded that it would become harder to make money from charging as more companies entered the market.

Tesla does not disclose the financial performance of its charging business, but analysts say it requires capital that Mr. Musk would rather invest in artificial intelligence and robotics , which he has said will power the company’s future growth.

“My guess is that the electricity and infrastructure costs of running the network far exceed the fees provided by Tesla and other drivers thus far,” Ben Rose, president of Battle Road Research, said in an email. “They can now focus on getting maximum use of what they’ve installed.”

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

Another reason Mr. Musk may have soured on charging is that he may regret Tesla’s decision last year to open its U.S. stations to vehicles from other manufacturers. By opening the door to Fords, Cadillacs, BMWs and other automakers, Tesla has made it easier for others to sell electric vehicles, which may help those automakers chip away at Tesla’s dominance in the U.S. market.

Mr. Musk's rationale “may be that people will use Tesla’s infrastructure and buy another manufacturer’s car,” said Raj Rajkumar, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He added that he considered Mr. Musk’s decision to pull back on new chargers a mistake that would make it harder for more car buyers to switch to electric vehicles.

Tesla has been one of many companies applying for subsidies under a federal program that aims to have half a million fast and slow chargers operating by 2030, up from nearly 200,000 today. Combined with state and local incentives, government money can cover almost all the cost of a charging station.

“If Tesla is no longer bidding on these things, the agencies handing them out will go to other operators,” said Badar Khan, the chief executive of EVgo, a charging company in Los Angeles. “There are a lot of different participants.”

The 500 charging employees that Tesla dismissed will probably take their expertise elsewhere, Mr. Khan said. “There is a very talented pool of people entering the market,” he said. “We are having conversations with individuals right now.”

EVgo said in March that it had nearly 3,000 charging stalls as of the end of last year, up 37 percent from the end of 2022.

Electric utilities, which must upgrade their equipment to support growth of charging options, said the fast charging network was just one component of a broader strategy that Tesla’s decision would not alter.

“It’s no secret Tesla’s an important player” for electric vehicle charging, said Chanel Parson, director of clean energy and demand response at Southern California Edison, the state’s second largest investor-owned utility. But, she added, “they’re not the only player.”

The utility has 500 projects at various stages of development for 14,000 chargers that focus on light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. To reach California’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, Ms. Parson said, 90 percent of light and medium vehicles must go electric, along with 80 percent of buses and 54 percent of heavy-duty vehicles.

“And there’s lots of partners in this space that we’re working with to make that a reality,” she said.

Government officials responsible for funding and promoting electric vehicles said they were not dismayed by Tesla’s decision to pull back on charging.

Thousands of chargers are coming online every month, the Biden administration’s Joint Office of Energy and Transportation said in a statement, adding, “We don’t expect individual business decisions to impact E.V. charging projects.”

An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of the chief executive of EcoG. It is Jörg Heuer, not Jorg Heue.

How we handle corrections

Jack Ewing writes about the auto industry with an emphasis on electric vehicles. More about Jack Ewing

Ivan Penn is a reporter based in Los Angeles and covers the energy industry. His work has included reporting on clean energy, failures in the electric grid and the economics of utility services. More about Ivan Penn

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Drive South Africa Launches New Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations Map

Drive South Africa , southern Africa’s leading online vehicle rental resource, has launched a new Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Map to help drivers find their nearest electric vehicle charging station.  

The new EV Map is a route-planning resource tool for our customers with one eye on the future of mobility. It lets drivers search for their closest place to recharge based on two specific types of charging stations. Then, it uses their current location to pinpoint the nearest EV charging station, including directions and contact details.

The map highlights over 300 charging stations across key routes across South Africa. This makes it the most comprehensive map of its kind in the country.

“The Drive South Africa vision is to grow our eco-friendly travel resources along with our clients’ preferences and uptake of more sustainable means of travel,” said Drive South Africa’s product manager, Ellena Van Tonder.  

“In this way, we are committed to offering our guests the best experience when travelling in South Africa and Africa,” said Van Tonder.

And, while we work towards introducing more EVs to our vehicle rental offerings, we hope that this tool becomes an invaluable resource for South African motorists. Read on to learn more about it.

Why Did We Launch an EV Map?

In 2024, South Africans have access to a wider selection of EVs than ever before . These battery-powered vehicles are taking the world by storm, and you can now buy one for under R700,000 .

Throughout the full lifetime of an EV, it will generate significantly less emissions than an internal combustion engine (ICE) car, making it a far more sustainable alternative. In fact, EarthJustice explains that even when charged on the “dirtiest” power grids, EVs are still more efficient than ICE cars. 

EVs aren’t just better for the planet – they’re practical and powerful. For example, the cheapest EV in South Africa, the GWM ORA 03, can go 310 km on a single charge. You can also recharge it from 0% to 80% in under an hour. Pair this with remarkable acceleration, and you’ve got yourself a serious set of wheels.

Andre Van Kets, co-founder of Discover Africa Group, explains that the Drive South Africa EV Charging Stations Map will help South Africans take the next step in the future of mobility.

“South Africa, a leader in electric mobility on the African continent, is now even more accessible with our new EV Map,” he says. “We’ve developed this tool to empower our Drive South Africa clients, making it easier than ever to find safe and convenient charging stations.”

Van Kets adds that he expects the advancement and accessibility to electric vehicles to continue to improve in South Africa and the rest of the continent.  

Despite being the lowest worldwide, battery electric vehicle sales across Africa have shown an upward trend. In 2022, South Africa had about 1,000 electric vehicles (EVs) out of 12 million automobiles, according to the latest data shared by global data insights platform Statista.com .  

“The Drive South Africa vision is to grow our eco-friendly travel resources along with our clients’ preferences and uptake of more sustainable means of travel,” says Discover Africa Group co-founder, Steve Conradie. “In this way, we are committed to offering our guests the best experience when travelling in South Africa and Africa.”

Drive South Africa will continue to update and develop our user-friendly road-trip planning resource to help eco-conscious drivers ensure they can safely travel and recharge during their next trip. 

Your Questions Answered

What types of EV charging stations are listed on the EV Map?  

Drive South Africa’s EV Map lets drivers choose between two types of EV charging stations. Charging stations are defined by the type of plug and current used to charge an electric vehicle. 

Type 2 EV chargers are the more common type, with their seven-pin design. They are used for fast EV charging using Alternating Current (AC). Combined Charging Systems (CCS) uses fast Direct Current (DC) charging. 

How do I find the nearest EV charging station to my current location?

Select the type of charge you need. Then, enter your current location in the search bar. The EV Map will then refresh to display the nearest EV charging stations. 

Are the charging stations operational 24/7?

While many stations operate 24/7, availability can vary. Plan your trip well in advance and check individual station details for operating hours and any access restrictions.

How do I access information on charging station availability and occupancy? 

Click on a station marker on the map to view detailed information, including the number of charging bays available, a clickable link to directions, and contact details for the charging station.  

Is there a fee for using the EV charging stations listed on the map?

Charging fees vary by location and provider. Check individual station details for any usage fees or access restrictions.

Can I reserve a charging spot in advance? 

Reservation policies depend on the station provider. Check the station details for reservation options and procedures.

How current is the information on the EV charging map?

Drive South Africa’s EV Map is regularly updated, but users are encouraged to check the latest details and user reviews for real-time information. 

What should I do if I encounter an issue with a charging station?

Drive South Africa has compiled the locations of these charging stations into a resource for its clients only. Report the issue directly to the station provider.

Our EV Charging Stations Map is live and ready to use. Simply enter a location and our software will do the rest.

As South Africa gets to grips with EVs, more and more people will turn to our tool to plan their trips. You can rest assured that we’ll keep updating our map to include new charging stations throughout the country.

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