If you’re new to the electric vehicle world, you may feel a bit lost in what has to do with EV chargers. The different types of chargers, what’s the best one for your vehicle and where to find them may be tricky if you’re not used to it. Learning what’s the best EV charging app can mean doing some research too.
We’ll get to the part of what’s the best EV charging app for you to download. But before diving into that information, you must learn a bit more about the different types of electric vehicle chargers and their characteristics. So let’s get it started!
Differences between EV chargers
If you’ve driven conventional vehicles, you probably know a bit about the difference between fuel types. Now, if you’re thinking about driving an electric vehicle (EV), it’s good to understand the characteristics of the various charging options in the market. Here’s a quick guide.
There are three charging levels: Level 1 (L1), Level 2 (L2) and Level 3 (commonly referred to as DCFC). The levels refer to how fast do they get an EV recharged. The actual time it’ll take to get an electric car’s battery fully recharged will depend on the vehicle’s battery capacity and the type of charger used to do so.
Here’s a comparison between the chargers that can be found on the market:
• Level 1. 120 V, about 15 Amps., charges at 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. Found in residential areas. Charges an average EV in around 24 hours.
• Level 2. About 220V, 12 to 80 Amps. Charging time: 10-20 miles of range per hour. Gets an average EV battery in approximately 8 hours.
• Level 3 (or DCFC). 208V or 480V. More than 125 Amps, charges a standard EV’s battery to 80% in 20 to 60 minutes.
What’s the best app to find EV charging stations?
As already stated, entering the electric vehicle world is not that easy. It’s perfectly normal to feel a bit lost or anxious about using your new EV, knowing where to plug it if you’re on the streets, how to pay for getting the vehicle charged and so on.
There are two ways to charge the battery of an electric vehicle: the pay-as-you-go method and subscription plans offered by some EV charging station suppliers. Both often offer good customer service to encourage users to adopt this way of mobility.
Depending on the use you’ll give to your EV and the type of electric vehicle you own, will be the app that best suits your needs. Here’s a bit of information on some EV charging apps available.
EVCS. EVCS offers a monthly subscription that lets you recharge your EV as many times as required for a fixed fee. They offer Level 2 and DC fast chargers. The mobile app has a user-friendly interface, is compatible with all mobile devices OS and has a search engine to easily find the closest charger.
PlugShare. It doesn’t offer a subscription nor own any of the chargers, but it’s a free app that’s compatible with any device OS. It’s an EV charging information app that holds about 230,000 locations on file worldwide.
EVgo. This app is $10 and offers services in 34 states, and information on more than 1,000 DC fast chargers.
Greenlot. Works both with Android and iOS. This free app works in the US, Canada, Singapore, and Thailand. It presents full information on specific things, such as ChaDeMo chargers.
ChargeMap. Can be used in America and Canada. It’s an app that offers data about approximately 170,000 charging stations.
The best app for EV charging stations for you is a completely personal choice. Which one will it be?
