Best app to locate public charge stations

[islander]

I looked in the obvious places and can not locate the apps. I have a Droid phone, if that matters...

Thanks.

[Joule Thief]

I'll go out and look but since you've done the homework which of these have Windows Phone versions?

I looked in the obvious places and can not locate the apps. I have a Droid phone, if that matters...

Thanks.

Sorry guys, I thought everyone used iPhones now Just kidding, I've gone back and updated the original post with phone compatibility and websites for the various apps, hope this helps. Pauldon, unfortunately I don't see Windows Phone versions for any of the apps I reviewed. However, I did add a link to the end of the original post to a DOE NREL mobile site for locating stations that may help you, http://www.afdc.energy.gov/stations/m.

While doing the research, I came across this article that also sizes up a few of these apps:
http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/25/app...hicle-drivers/

-JT

[tboult]

Can also use
Google maps (the google ap on the iphone just type in EV charging)

http://www.green.autoblog.com/2011/0...ging-stations/

[ChrisC]

I think it's important to separately consider a particular service's WEBSITE versus their APP.

After some evaluation several months ago, I decided that carstations.com was the best site, so much so that I put it into my sig below. As WVhybrid mentioned above, it's very easy to submit data on stations that you've found, whether it's just a note about accessibility or a picture of the environs or whatever. Those submissions go into their moderation queue but typically show up on the website within a day. If you look at ANY non-Nissan charging location in the Atlanta metro area, you will likely see comments and pictures submitted by me.

Critically, CarStations.com doesn't just limit to one vendor's chargers, like ChargePoint does.

The CarStations.com smartphone app just came out in October and does need a little improvement (and I'm told that a round of improvements is coming this month). But they start with the best raw data set, so I'm sticking with them for now. And they have the app for both iPhone and Android. (I thought everyone was off iPhone and using Android by now, just kidding )

(thank Joule Thief for the tip on this thread; I'll add it to the FAQ soon)

(EDIT: added to FAQ)

[ChrisC]

Can also use Google maps (the google ap on the iphone just type in EV charging)
http://www.green.autoblog.com/2011/0...ging-stations/

The Google Maps EV charging function is terrible. Have you actually tried it? Utterly useless. False positives, false negatives, ugh.

[tboult]

The Google Maps EV charging function is terrible. Have you actually tried it? Utterly useless. False positives, false negatives, ugh.

Tried it but never verified the data as there is virtually nothing around me (except Nissan dealers).
Just tossing it into the mix as it had not been mentioned. Good to know is bad, especially with false positives that could be ugly if in BEV.

[MTN Ranger]

MTN Ranger, CarStations is wiki-like, anyone can add stations. You can add them yourself, or, if you want, I'd be willing to add them for you. Just send me the addresses, and a photo if you can get one, and I'll post them on CarStations. Post new charging stations on CarStations is really not hard to do, and just takes a couple minutes. If you take a photo to post, take it from a location so a user can recognize the location from the photo.

If you want me to do the posting, just send me a PM with the info. If you add it, or I add it, the extra info will be available for anyone to use.

WVhybrid

Yes, I have been adding charging stations to the CarStations and PlugShare databases. I even added photos.

I just found a new charging station yesterday but unfortunately it is "city vehicles only" according to a cop I asked. Corner of S Salisbury St & W South St, by the convention center in downtown Raleigh.
Downtown Raleigh Solar EVSE Web.jpg

[ChrisC]

Today I took a long look at the PlugShare site (where I assume the PlugShare app gets its data). At least for the Atlanta area, it's got pretty bad data -- missing stations, wrong info, etc. CarStations.com has much better data and features that help you actually find the station. I think CarStations.com is evolving into a better site because of the wiki-like feedback capabilities. (although not strictly wiki-like because all edits have to be approved, but they do get approved quuickly)

[WVhybrid]

Yes, I have been adding charging stations to the CarStations and PlugShare databases. I even added photos.

Thank you!

Now if everyone added one charging station......

(edit) I'd go ahead and add the city's charging station. You never know when they may bend the rules in an emergency.

[MTN Ranger]

Thank you!

Now if everyone added one charging station......

(edit) I'd go ahead and add the city's charging station. You never know when they may bend the rules in an emergency.

I'm thrilled that Raleigh is adding 20-30 stations all over the area. Some are so new that they haven't been activated yet (7-14 days they told me).