Yes, electric vehicles are moving into the mainstream, and more and more people choose them over noisy automobiles. There are several reasons for this, starting with the rising cost of gas and ending with a variety of government incentives that influence people's choices. Making such a significant adjustment is undoubtedly difficult because electric cars haven’t been around for long, and learning how to operate and maintain an EV can take a bit of time and effort on the driver’s side.
When someone buys an EV, the first thoughts that come to their mind are, "How do I discover charging stations?" and "What types of stations are compatible with my car?" Unlike gas stations that are visible from afar and familiar to each driver, EV charging stations may initially be hard to find. Fortunately, finding a charging station is not as tough as it may appear; all you need to do is to plan ahead and learn what tools to use.
We've compiled all the information you need to know to find EV charging stations in this article, including instructions on how to locate a car charging station and helpful apps, so you won't panic if your battery runs low when you’re out and about.
First of all, you need to know that there are several charger types, and not all of them will work with your car. Thus, knowing what kind of charger your car is compatible with and how much power it can handle is essential.
IEC 62196, usually referred to as "mennekes," is the standard connector that is usually utilised by automobile manufacturers in Europe (with the exception of Tesla). When it comes to fast charging, which can load your battery by 80% in just 30 minutes, cars manufactured in Europe use the same connectors as the cars found in North America, where CCS is the industry standard (except for Nissan and Mitsubishi). You don't need to worry about charging speed because charging stations provide the correct voltage and adjust to your car's capabilities.
Understanding which connector is best for your car may seem very complicated. Don't worry, everything is rather simple: if you purchase an EV in your respective market, you can be confident that it has a standard connector for that region. Tesla is a consistent outlier, but its vehicles come with a special adapter cable that enables you to use market-standard charging stations. The same is applicable to Tesla charging stations, which may still be used by non-Tesla users with the help of an adapter from a third party.
Because electric vehicles are built using cutting-edge technologies, the majority of them include a variety of extra functions. One of those is an integrated navigation system. Aside from just showing you the route, your car’s navigation system can also locate the closest charging stations, account for your charge level, and lead you to the charging point when it's needed. Tesla is one of the best examples, as you won't likely need anything else besides in-car software with this vehicle.
A lot of drivers don’t like using built-in navigation systems in their cars because they often feel outdated and slow. In this case, a good alternative is to use an EV charging app. Here are the best options on the market:
Finding and paying at a charging station is not a task many EV drivers enjoy. You need to register with each charging service, link your email or phone number, and enter your credit card details in order to locate and use charging stations from different networks.
This is where Bonnet can help - our app will take care of everything, saving you both time and energy. With over 17 of Europe's leading EV charging station networks connected to Bonnet, it's easy to search for chargers and pay using them with a single app and bank account. The need to continuously connect your bank information, sign up for each charging network, and search for charging locations across dozens of different apps is gone, thanks to one user-friendly application. Bonnet makes EV charging easy and enjoyable!
PlugShare is one of the most popular EV charging apps. It is used by 70% of EV owners, with more than 600,000 charging stations listed. Thanks to the 2 million registered active users consistently contributing to the app, its data is updated on a regular basis. When you first download the app, it will ask you what kind of electric vehicle you have so that it can only show you chargers that are compatible with your car. Their journey planner will help you find charging stations ahead of time for your next road trip, ensuring that you don't end up with a dead battery in the middle of nowhere.
EVgo is another app that is constantly expanding its network of charging stations. The app works similarly to others: you select your car make and model when signing up, and all the filters are adjusted automatically. A highly helpful feature of EVgo is the ability to reserve a charger 20 minutes beforehand to ensure that it won't be occupied by anybody else before you can get to it (reservations must be made in advance for $3). One drawback that many drivers point out is that there is no way to mark your preferred charging stations so you won't have to search for them again on the map.
For those who have just bought their first EV and are still unsure of what the best charging station for their car model is, Chargeway is a great option. In essence, it is a trip planner tool that filters compatible charging stations based on the type of vehicle you drive. In addition, instead of confusing you with different connector names, Chargeway uses its own colour-coded numbering scheme. Numbers indicate how quickly your car can be charged at this station, while colours indicate the type of plug that is available at the charging point. Chargeway will recommend the optimal charging spot for you based on your battery level and current location. Though many customers complain that Chargeway displays substantially fewer charging stations, we assume that it only lists the safest chargers compatible with your particular EV.
ChargeHub is one of the most user-friendly apps with a great interface. At the bottom of the main screen, you can find multiple sections, including "Trips", "Community", and "Profile", along with a map. You can add your preferred charging stations to your route and use the map as a navigation tool under the "trips" area. The profile section includes details about your EV in general, saved journeys, and favourite chargers. You can also view a charging guide for new EV owners that explains the various charger types and connectors and gives other crucial information. The "community" section displays the most recent activity of other users as well as their reviews. Overall, ChargeHub is a wonderful app for novices since it comes with all the necessary tools.
Long car trips can be made easier if you use A Better Routeplanner (ABRP), a tool that includes charging station locations as well as a navigation system. All you need to do is enter the model of your car, how much battery power it has at the beginning of the trip, and your average speed. You will then be given the ideal route that contains the necessary charging stops and the estimated time you will require for them. ABRP can be downloaded for free, but if you want to use all the features (such as real-time traffic statistics, charger availability, etc.), you will have to purchase the premium edition, which costs $5 per month or $50 per year.
Another option is to download a network-provided app directly if utilising all of those apps overwhelms you and you prefer using one charging network.
Yes, those apps will only display charging stations from their own network, but you will also be able to get information about pricing, operating hours, terms of usage, etc.
Some charging networks require drivers to download their app because it's the only method to pay for the charging. This can be very confusing and time-consuming, which is why many charging networks have moved to using contactless card readers. There are some free charging stations as well, but you won't likely encounter them as frequently as you'd want.
If you frequently use charging stations from different networks, your best choice is to download Bonnet. More than 17 of Europe's top EV charging stations are connected to this app, making it simple to search and pay charging at any of them using a single app and bank account. Thanks to one user-friendly app, you no longer need to constantly connect your bank information, register for each charging network, and search for charging stations across dozens of different apps.
To make your journey as effortless as possible, you can take the following actions:
Bonnet is the app with the most charging stations, giving you access to more than 17 European charging networks. This app's user-friendly layout enables you to pay for all charges with just one account.
The payment method depends on the charging network you use. While some of them require the installation of a special app, others accept simple payments made with contactless credit or debit cards.
Yes, electric vehicles are moving into the mainstream, and more and more people choose them over noisy automobiles. There are several reasons for this, starting with the rising cost of gas and ending with a variety of government incentives that influence people's choices. Making such a significant adjustment is undoubtedly difficult because electric cars haven’t been around for long, and learning how to operate and maintain an EV can take a bit of time and effort on the driver’s side.
When someone buys an EV, the first thoughts that come to their mind are, "How do I discover charging stations?" and "What types of stations are compatible with my car?" Unlike gas stations that are visible from afar and familiar to each driver, EV charging stations may initially be hard to find. Fortunately, finding a charging station is not as tough as it may appear; all you need to do is to plan ahead and learn what tools to use.
We've compiled all the information you need to know to find EV charging stations in this article, including instructions on how to locate a car charging station and helpful apps, so you won't panic if your battery runs low when you’re out and about.
First of all, you need to know that there are several charger types, and not all of them will work with your car. Thus, knowing what kind of charger your car is compatible with and how much power it can handle is essential.
IEC 62196, usually referred to as "mennekes," is the standard connector that is usually utilised by automobile manufacturers in Europe (with the exception of Tesla). When it comes to fast charging, which can load your battery by 80% in just 30 minutes, cars manufactured in Europe use the same connectors as the cars found in North America, where CCS is the industry standard (except for Nissan and Mitsubishi). You don't need to worry about charging speed because charging stations provide the correct voltage and adjust to your car's capabilities.
Understanding which connector is best for your car may seem very complicated. Don't worry, everything is rather simple: if you purchase an EV in your respective market, you can be confident that it has a standard connector for that region. Tesla is a consistent outlier, but its vehicles come with a special adapter cable that enables you to use market-standard charging stations. The same is applicable to Tesla charging stations, which may still be used by non-Tesla users with the help of an adapter from a third party.
Because electric vehicles are built using cutting-edge technologies, the majority of them include a variety of extra functions. One of those is an integrated navigation system. Aside from just showing you the route, your car’s navigation system can also locate the closest charging stations, account for your charge level, and lead you to the charging point when it's needed. Tesla is one of the best examples, as you won't likely need anything else besides in-car software with this vehicle.
A lot of drivers don’t like using built-in navigation systems in their cars because they often feel outdated and slow. In this case, a good alternative is to use an EV charging app. Here are the best options on the market:
Finding and paying at a charging station is not a task many EV drivers enjoy. You need to register with each charging service, link your email or phone number, and enter your credit card details in order to locate and use charging stations from different networks.
This is where Bonnet can help - our app will take care of everything, saving you both time and energy. With over 17 of Europe's leading EV charging station networks connected to Bonnet, it's easy to search for chargers and pay using them with a single app and bank account. The need to continuously connect your bank information, sign up for each charging network, and search for charging locations across dozens of different apps is gone, thanks to one user-friendly application. Bonnet makes EV charging easy and enjoyable!
PlugShare is one of the most popular EV charging apps. It is used by 70% of EV owners, with more than 600,000 charging stations listed. Thanks to the 2 million registered active users consistently contributing to the app, its data is updated on a regular basis. When you first download the app, it will ask you what kind of electric vehicle you have so that it can only show you chargers that are compatible with your car. Their journey planner will help you find charging stations ahead of time for your next road trip, ensuring that you don't end up with a dead battery in the middle of nowhere.
EVgo is another app that is constantly expanding its network of charging stations. The app works similarly to others: you select your car make and model when signing up, and all the filters are adjusted automatically. A highly helpful feature of EVgo is the ability to reserve a charger 20 minutes beforehand to ensure that it won't be occupied by anybody else before you can get to it (reservations must be made in advance for $3). One drawback that many drivers point out is that there is no way to mark your preferred charging stations so you won't have to search for them again on the map.
For those who have just bought their first EV and are still unsure of what the best charging station for their car model is, Chargeway is a great option. In essence, it is a trip planner tool that filters compatible charging stations based on the type of vehicle you drive. In addition, instead of confusing you with different connector names, Chargeway uses its own colour-coded numbering scheme. Numbers indicate how quickly your car can be charged at this station, while colours indicate the type of plug that is available at the charging point. Chargeway will recommend the optimal charging spot for you based on your battery level and current location. Though many customers complain that Chargeway displays substantially fewer charging stations, we assume that it only lists the safest chargers compatible with your particular EV.
ChargeHub is one of the most user-friendly apps with a great interface. At the bottom of the main screen, you can find multiple sections, including "Trips", "Community", and "Profile", along with a map. You can add your preferred charging stations to your route and use the map as a navigation tool under the "trips" area. The profile section includes details about your EV in general, saved journeys, and favourite chargers. You can also view a charging guide for new EV owners that explains the various charger types and connectors and gives other crucial information. The "community" section displays the most recent activity of other users as well as their reviews. Overall, ChargeHub is a wonderful app for novices since it comes with all the necessary tools.
Long car trips can be made easier if you use A Better Routeplanner (ABRP), a tool that includes charging station locations as well as a navigation system. All you need to do is enter the model of your car, how much battery power it has at the beginning of the trip, and your average speed. You will then be given the ideal route that contains the necessary charging stops and the estimated time you will require for them. ABRP can be downloaded for free, but if you want to use all the features (such as real-time traffic statistics, charger availability, etc.), you will have to purchase the premium edition, which costs $5 per month or $50 per year.
Another option is to download a network-provided app directly if utilising all of those apps overwhelms you and you prefer using one charging network.
Yes, those apps will only display charging stations from their own network, but you will also be able to get information about pricing, operating hours, terms of usage, etc.
Some charging networks require drivers to download their app because it's the only method to pay for the charging. This can be very confusing and time-consuming, which is why many charging networks have moved to using contactless card readers. There are some free charging stations as well, but you won't likely encounter them as frequently as you'd want.
If you frequently use charging stations from different networks, your best choice is to download Bonnet. More than 17 of Europe's top EV charging stations are connected to this app, making it simple to search and pay charging at any of them using a single app and bank account. Thanks to one user-friendly app, you no longer need to constantly connect your bank information, register for each charging network, and search for charging stations across dozens of different apps.
Yes, electric vehicles are moving into the mainstream, and more and more people choose them over noisy automobiles. There are several reasons for this, starting with the rising cost of gas and ending with a variety of government incentives that influence people's choices. Making such a significant adjustment is undoubtedly difficult because electric cars haven’t been around for long, and learning how to operate and maintain an EV can take a bit of time and effort on the driver’s side.
When someone buys an EV, the first thoughts that come to their mind are, "How do I discover charging stations?" and "What types of stations are compatible with my car?" Unlike gas stations that are visible from afar and familiar to each driver, EV charging stations may initially be hard to find. Fortunately, finding a charging station is not as tough as it may appear; all you need to do is to plan ahead and learn what tools to use.
We've compiled all the information you need to know to find EV charging stations in this article, including instructions on how to locate a car charging station and helpful apps, so you won't panic if your battery runs low when you’re out and about.
First of all, you need to know that there are several charger types, and not all of them will work with your car. Thus, knowing what kind of charger your car is compatible with and how much power it can handle is essential.
IEC 62196, usually referred to as "mennekes," is the standard connector that is usually utilised by automobile manufacturers in Europe (with the exception of Tesla). When it comes to fast charging, which can load your battery by 80% in just 30 minutes, cars manufactured in Europe use the same connectors as the cars found in North America, where CCS is the industry standard (except for Nissan and Mitsubishi). You don't need to worry about charging speed because charging stations provide the correct voltage and adjust to your car's capabilities.
Understanding which connector is best for your car may seem very complicated. Don't worry, everything is rather simple: if you purchase an EV in your respective market, you can be confident that it has a standard connector for that region. Tesla is a consistent outlier, but its vehicles come with a special adapter cable that enables you to use market-standard charging stations. The same is applicable to Tesla charging stations, which may still be used by non-Tesla users with the help of an adapter from a third party.
Because electric vehicles are built using cutting-edge technologies, the majority of them include a variety of extra functions. One of those is an integrated navigation system. Aside from just showing you the route, your car’s navigation system can also locate the closest charging stations, account for your charge level, and lead you to the charging point when it's needed. Tesla is one of the best examples, as you won't likely need anything else besides in-car software with this vehicle.
A lot of drivers don’t like using built-in navigation systems in their cars because they often feel outdated and slow. In this case, a good alternative is to use an EV charging app. Here are the best options on the market:
Finding and paying at a charging station is not a task many EV drivers enjoy. You need to register with each charging service, link your email or phone number, and enter your credit card details in order to locate and use charging stations from different networks.
This is where Bonnet can help - our app will take care of everything, saving you both time and energy. With over 17 of Europe's leading EV charging station networks connected to Bonnet, it's easy to search for chargers and pay using them with a single app and bank account. The need to continuously connect your bank information, sign up for each charging network, and search for charging locations across dozens of different apps is gone, thanks to one user-friendly application. Bonnet makes EV charging easy and enjoyable!
PlugShare is one of the most popular EV charging apps. It is used by 70% of EV owners, with more than 600,000 charging stations listed. Thanks to the 2 million registered active users consistently contributing to the app, its data is updated on a regular basis. When you first download the app, it will ask you what kind of electric vehicle you have so that it can only show you chargers that are compatible with your car. Their journey planner will help you find charging stations ahead of time for your next road trip, ensuring that you don't end up with a dead battery in the middle of nowhere.
EVgo is another app that is constantly expanding its network of charging stations. The app works similarly to others: you select your car make and model when signing up, and all the filters are adjusted automatically. A highly helpful feature of EVgo is the ability to reserve a charger 20 minutes beforehand to ensure that it won't be occupied by anybody else before you can get to it (reservations must be made in advance for $3). One drawback that many drivers point out is that there is no way to mark your preferred charging stations so you won't have to search for them again on the map.
For those who have just bought their first EV and are still unsure of what the best charging station for their car model is, Chargeway is a great option. In essence, it is a trip planner tool that filters compatible charging stations based on the type of vehicle you drive. In addition, instead of confusing you with different connector names, Chargeway uses its own colour-coded numbering scheme. Numbers indicate how quickly your car can be charged at this station, while colours indicate the type of plug that is available at the charging point. Chargeway will recommend the optimal charging spot for you based on your battery level and current location. Though many customers complain that Chargeway displays substantially fewer charging stations, we assume that it only lists the safest chargers compatible with your particular EV.
ChargeHub is one of the most user-friendly apps with a great interface. At the bottom of the main screen, you can find multiple sections, including "Trips", "Community", and "Profile", along with a map. You can add your preferred charging stations to your route and use the map as a navigation tool under the "trips" area. The profile section includes details about your EV in general, saved journeys, and favourite chargers. You can also view a charging guide for new EV owners that explains the various charger types and connectors and gives other crucial information. The "community" section displays the most recent activity of other users as well as their reviews. Overall, ChargeHub is a wonderful app for novices since it comes with all the necessary tools.
Long car trips can be made easier if you use A Better Routeplanner (ABRP), a tool that includes charging station locations as well as a navigation system. All you need to do is enter the model of your car, how much battery power it has at the beginning of the trip, and your average speed. You will then be given the ideal route that contains the necessary charging stops and the estimated time you will require for them. ABRP can be downloaded for free, but if you want to use all the features (such as real-time traffic statistics, charger availability, etc.), you will have to purchase the premium edition, which costs $5 per month or $50 per year.
Another option is to download a network-provided app directly if utilising all of those apps overwhelms you and you prefer using one charging network.
Yes, those apps will only display charging stations from their own network, but you will also be able to get information about pricing, operating hours, terms of usage, etc.
Some charging networks require drivers to download their app because it's the only method to pay for the charging. This can be very confusing and time-consuming, which is why many charging networks have moved to using contactless card readers. There are some free charging stations as well, but you won't likely encounter them as frequently as you'd want.
If you frequently use charging stations from different networks, your best choice is to download Bonnet. More than 17 of Europe's top EV charging stations are connected to this app, making it simple to search and pay charging at any of them using a single app and bank account. Thanks to one user-friendly app, you no longer need to constantly connect your bank information, register for each charging network, and search for charging stations across dozens of different apps.
To make your journey as effortless as possible, you can take the following actions:
Bonnet is the app with the most charging stations, giving you access to more than 17 European charging networks. This app's user-friendly layout enables you to pay for all charges with just one account.
The payment method depends on the charging network you use. While some of them require the installation of a special app, others accept simple payments made with contactless credit or debit cards.
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