As electric vehicles (EVs) surge in popularity, a burning question arises: Will the charging infrastructure keep pace with demand? Scenes of long queues at Tesla Supercharger stations during rush hour in EV hotbeds like Los Angeles underscore the pressing need for more charging options. However, fret not – solutions are emerging to ease the anxiety around locating convenient charging stations for your electric ride.
The Home Charging Convenience
For many EV owners, the obvious solution starts right at home. Installing a dedicated Level 2 EV charger in your garage or driveway alleviates range anxiety by enabling overnight charging sessions while you sleep. With battery top-ups each morning, you can comfortably handle daily commutes without extensive public charging needs.
Level 2 chargers from EV charger manufacturers offer faster charging speeds compared to trickle-charging from a household outlet. In just 4-10 hours, they can replenish an EV's battery versus 20+ hours for a standard 120V connection. This home charging capability provides unbeatable convenience.
But what about those times you venture beyond your local haunts? Trips around town, holidays, business travel – these all necessitate locating public charging stations while on the move.
Tracking Down Public Charge Points
In recent years, government initiatives and private investment have spurred major expansions of public charging networks across cities, towns, and along highway corridors. However, finding available stations can still prove challenging, especially in less populated areas. Thankfully, technology is here to assist:
Built-In Vehicle Navigation - Many modern EVs come equipped with charging station locators integrated into their dashboard navigation systems or mobile apps. They can pinpoint nearby compatible stations run by networks like ChargePoint, EVgo, Electrify America, and more.
Automaker Charging Networks - The major EV manufacturers often operate their own proprietary charging networks for customer use. For example, Tesla has blanketed highways with its Supercharger network stretching across North America, Europe, and beyond.
Third-Party Apps - When automaker or built-in maps aren't cutting it, apps like PlugShare, ChargeHub, and others can be golden for crowdsourced charging locations from other EV drivers in the area, including details on pricing, connections types, and amenities.
In-Vehicle Voice Control - Taking voice commands one step further, some EVs allow locating nearby stations simply by saying "Find charging stations near me." The navigation responds by listing options with distances, ratings, and charge point availability if known.
From public parking garages and shopping malls to grocery stores and restaurants, public charging stations are sprinkled across the urban landscape these days. Retailers are cluing into the advantages of providing charging as an amenity to draw in EV drivers as customers during their lengthy charging periods.
Portable Charging for Extra Flexibility
For maximum adaptability, the emergence of portable Level 2 EV chargers opens up even more options for extra charging opportunities on longer trips. These mobile units are designed with easily coiled cables to plug into standard 240V outlets wherever they can be accessed.
Some portable EV charger models from companies like AMPROAD are compact enough to tote in your vehicle, allowing you to top up the battery by plugging into RV parks, campsites, accommodating businesses, or even an obliging friend's house for a few hours. The ultimate in impromptu opportunity charging when you can't find or wait for a public station.
However, portable EV charger does come with some considerations. You'll need to secure permission if not using a clearly designated public charging outlet. And remember these compact chargers still draw considerable power - counting on a measly household outlet may overload the circuit. But overall, they make incredibly handy range extenders for EV road trips.
Public Charging Networks Expanding
While finding places to charge is getting easier, locating available, compatible charge points can still be hit-or-miss in certain areas. Major cities tend to have more ubiquitous coverage, but suburban and rural areas remain sparser.
To combat charging deserts, government agencies and private companies are rapidly deploying new public networks and individual charging stations across North America, Europe, and Asia. Examples of expansive efforts include:
- The U.S. federal government investing $5 billion to install 500,000 public EV chargers by 2030
- Electrify America building a 1,800 EVCS network across the United States and Canada
- Shell acquiring Greenlots and planning to install 500,000 charge points globally by 2025
- BMW, Daimler, Ford and the Volkswagen Group forming IONITY to build 7,000 350kW chargers across Europe
As these public networks mature and improve pricing/access models, searching for nearby stations should only get easier. Many locations freely offer charging rates of 50kW or higher for rapid speed. However, complexities like varying connector types between CHAdeMO, CSS and Tesla's proprietary plugs linger.
The Future of Seamless EV Charging
Ultimately, the ideal state for public electric vehicle charging should mirror our current experience with gas stations. You simply pull up to any available charger and click to pay with a credit card, Apple Pay or similar universal method without fussing over network logins or subscriptions.
Innovation leaders like Tesla are targeting this seamless charging vision. Their Supercharger stations aim to remove complexities for a self-explanatory transaction process any EV driver can execute on-the-fly, with automated billing based on charge time.
As public charging capabilities catch up to consumer EV adoption rates, we will see additional enhancements around ease-of-use, charging speeds, and pricing models to eliminate pain points. Apps and in-vehicle software integrations will become smarter, aggregating all possible charging locations and paths for easy navigation.
In the not-too-distant future, public EVSE charging will simply blend into our daily landscapes and routines without a second thought – just as refueling a gas-powered vehicle does today. But we're not quite there yet as the infrastructure buildout continues globally.
So for now, EV drivers will need to stay proactive and plan ahead as best they can for every trip. Check charging maps and apps to scout charging options along your route. Invest in a portable Level 2 EV charger for emergency backup. Install a home charging solution if possible. And keep charging forward toward convenient electromobility, one public station location at a time.