EVSE Location - One Source?

[Leafboy]

There are so many sources for the locations of EVSEs. Wouldn't it be nice if there was one source to find them, even if it fed all the other sources. I can find different locations in my area from many sources. Anyone else with me on this??? How can it be done?

 

[lpickup]

There are so many sources for the locations of EVSEs. Wouldn't it be nice if there was one source to find them, even if it fed all the other sources. I can find different locations in my area from many sources. Anyone else with me on this??? How can it be done?

This is probably as close to a religious discussion you'll get without mentioning religion.

In my area anyway there are only 3 or 4 different sources that are really valid:

plugshare.com/recargo.com/openchargemap.org or other crowd-sourced map/app
chargepoint.net (no Blink or eVgo here)
The City of Raleigh sustainability EVSE map (which oddly enough is usually very outdated, but every now and then a new EVSE will pop up)
CARWINGS (usually horribly out of date, so I wouldn't normally count it, but being that it's in the car, it's certainly convenient)

The whole point behind something like openchargemap.org is to provide an API but getting people to use it is a whole other matter.

I personally prefer plugshare so that's what I use. I stay abreast of the other 3 sources and when I see a new station pop up, I visit it (if I am in that area) to validate it and then add it to plugshare if it's not already there. Most of the time though someone else has already done so. I find it's not too difficult to keep up with new charging stations that are being added.

I suppose if I were going to a place I was unfamiliar with and did not see charging stations in that area on plugshare (or one of the other sources of info listed above) I might then search out some of the other sources, but I usually find this is unnecessary.

 

[KevinSharpe]

Anyone else with me on this??? How can it be done?

Open Charge Map provides a free and open global database of Charging Station locations and capabilities. The data is available for anyone to use in websites, apps, sat-navs, etc.

Please feel free to get involved and stop the madness of closed app proliferation (more than 110 apps/websites at the last count) :shock:

http://openchargemap.org/

 

[Stanton]

As long as an app/website/whatever depends upon (third party) user input, there will be inaccuracies/discrepancies. It's gotten to the point where I only rely on ChargePoint and Blink apps (since they own the EVSE's), and a local web-based Google map (Dallas-Fort Worth); it's accuracy is due to a diligent database keeper.

I'm not sure there is a definitive answer unless you own the network.

 

[EdmondLeaf]

I agree http://openchargemap.org/ have all non existing evse listed, but missing those that are operational in my state.

 

[lpickup]

As long as an app/website/whatever depends upon (third party) user input, there will be inaccuracies/discrepancies. It's gotten to the point where I only rely on ChargePoint and Blink apps (since they own the EVSE's), and a local web-based Google map (Dallas-Fort Worth); it's accuracy is due to a diligent database keeper.

I'm not sure there is a definitive answer unless you own the network.

Yes and no. I have heard stories of Chargepoint/Blink maps being inaccurate because the address they used in their database was the mailing/billing/administrative address of the host entity and not the physical address of the charging station. And on the other side of the coin, even if corrupt data gets into crowd-sourced map, the rest of the crowd will work to fix the database and keep it clean.

So neither is perfect.

The benefit to the closed networks is that they usually have some kind of proprietary value-add like determining if the charging station is in use or not and the ability to reserve it. Crowd-sourced maps can attempt to mimic that behavior, but not completely.

 

[KevinSharpe]

I agree http://openchargemap.org/ have all non existing evse listed, but missing those that are operational in my state.

so why not solve the problem by updating the OCM database with the correct data? This is a COMMUNITY effort and will only be useful if EV drivers get involved... we are making good progress in the UK because EV drivers care enough about the problem to do something about it...

 

[KevinSharpe]

How can it be done?

As you can see from some of the comments here many EV drivers recognise the issue but won't contribute any effort to help solve it.... the bottom line here is that we get the apps that we deserve

 

[EdmondLeaf]

Updating is not a big issue, knowing that is operating is working/not occupied it is a problem and owner/operator can only know that. Competitors will not like to share that because income lost to other operators. I already updated plugshare and others so I care, but how we know which source will prevail? For now we can update all of them and see what happen

 

[KevinSharpe]

Updating is not a big issue, knowing that is operating is working/not occupied it is a problem and owner/operator can only know that.

not at all... the status can be updated in real time by the user using an app... remember that occupancy is only an issue when you have a limited number of Charging Stations at a location... deploy large numbers of low cost solutions and this problem goes away.... when was the last time you checked on socket status at an RV park?

Competitors will not like to share that because income lost to other operators.

If we build a successful open database then all network operators will support it rather than risk drivers being unable to find their Charging Stations.

I already updated plugshare and others so I care, but how we know which source will prevail?

If plugshare takes a dive then we lose all of the data we've contributed because it's in a closed and proprietary database. If plugshare sells the data then you may even end up paying to access to data that you submitted.

If OCM takes a dive you simply pick up one of the many copies of the database that exist and continue... the data is free and open for ever.

 

[Leafboy]

I have been getting the information from http://www.semacharge.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and posting it on http://carstations.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; if it is missing. Walgreen's has been installing EVSEs (Semacharge) at their stores in the Atlanta, GA area. They have single-handedly quadrupled charging locations in the ATL in the past 6 months. Kudos to Walgreen's!!

 

[KevinSharpe]

I have been getting the information from http://www.semacharge.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and posting it on http://carstations.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; if it is missing.

OCM has a data sharing agreement with CarStations so you are supporting the community

 

[nogajim]

I have been getting the information from http://www.semacharge.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and posting it on http://carstations.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; if it is missing. Walgreen's has been installing EVSEs (Semacharge) at their stores in the Atlanta, GA area. They have single-handedly quadrupled charging locations in the ATL in the past 6 months. Kudos to Walgreen's!!

Lew,
How long between when you enter them on carstations and when they appear? I tried it once from my android phone and I don't know if it didn't work or just took a while to filter through.

I appreciate how fast Walgreens has moved with their EVSEs, too!

 

[planet4ever]

I agree http://openchargemap.org/ have all non existing evse listed, but missing those that are operational in my state.

I had never tried to use OCM, but I agree. It looks like it is in terrible shape for this area. The web app was also very touchy/flaky. With Firefox I got an error (what, I don't know) trying to do an update. Internet Explorer wouldn't even display a map. Google Chrome wouldn't let me enter latitude and longitude. I finally was (apparently) able to enter a location using Opera. The local Javascript said it had been submitted, but I might not be able to verify it for a while. I couldn't find any direct way to report a charging station that had been removed, but I did (apparently) add a comment saying that. Again, I don't know, because all I got was a local Javascript confirmation, and I can't see the change.

Plugshare may be "closed and proprietary", but at least it is staying up to date around here, and is easy and reliable to use.

Ray

P.S. I just checked again, and I can now see my comment that the old paddle station at Costco no longer exists.

 

[EVNation]

I have been getting the information from http://www.semacharge.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and posting it on http://carstations.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; if it is missing. Walgreen's has been installing EVSEs (Semacharge) at their stores in the Atlanta, GA area. They have single-handedly quadrupled charging locations in the ATL in the past 6 months. Kudos to Walgreen's!!

Lew,
How long between when you enter them on carstations and when they appear? I tried it once from my android phone and I don't know if it didn't work or just took a while to filter through.

I appreciate how fast Walgreens has moved with their EVSEs, too!

Nogajim,

Since I work on the Carstations iPhone app I can speak to that. We do moderate the adds (and updates) since we get a lot of incomplete, duplicate, or sometimes spammy data. However, we try to do it as fast as we can. Usually a few hours or less. Also the Android app is getting an upgrade soon since it doesn't have some of the most recent features though views the same database.

Thanks Lew for the adds. We have seen a lot of the Walgreens in GA coming online. I see a good 60 stations + in that area now. Since we are just a couple of guys doing this for free in our spare time, it is really helpful to have eyes out there. We are even working on a plan to give incentives to local contributors to verify and update stations for us.

I agree with Kevin's lament on getting all the data accurate and out there. With all these proprietary platforms and companies it is really hard and only you the users really care about getting all the best data. Blink, Chargepoint and similar is not in their interest to do so.

So keep at it and really appreciate the adds and updates. We pledge to do the best we can to get you the best data. If you don't have the time, just email us or send an update with the limited data you have. We will dig it out, but just need to be aware. Also we will keep working with guys like Kevin at OCM to try and make everyone have access to as clean data as we can.

-Jeff

 

[KevinSharpe]

I had never tried to use OCM, but I agree. It looks like it is in terrible shape for this area.

You completely miss the point... it's the open DATABASE that's important not the apps/websites that the team has developed. All apps were developed as examples to help developers in this area... many examples exist of great applications built on top of OCM database... the Nissan Fast Charge Map in the UK for example.

It's 'easy' to add great apps to OCM... that's why we are working with CarStations for example... the benefit to all will be accurate data and great apps... a win for all.

As I said before, this is a COMMUNITY project which is easy to criticise from the sidelines... if you want good Charging Stations data and apps/websites then get involved with OCM.

 

[Leafboy]

I have been getting the information from http://www.semacharge.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and posting it on http://carstations.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; if it is missing. Walgreen's has been installing EVSEs (Semacharge) at their stores in the Atlanta, GA area. They have single-handedly quadrupled charging locations in the ATL in the past 6 months. Kudos to Walgreen's!!

Lew,
How long between when you enter them on carstations and when they appear? I tried it once from my android phone and I don't know if it didn't work or just took a while to filter through.

I appreciate how fast Walgreens has moved with their EVSEs, too!

I really don't know to tell you the truth, but I think the website says to allow 3 days for them to be verified.

 

[planet4ever]

You completely miss the point... it's the open DATABASE that's important not the apps/websites that the team has developed. All apps were developed as examples to help developers in this area... many examples exist of great applications built on top of OCM database... the Nissan Fast Charge Map in the UK for example.

I'm sorry to be critical, Kevin, but most people are not app or website developers. Until there are good apps and websites, a great database is useless. It can't keep up to date unless it can be easily and intuitively crowd-sourced.

From my perspective in northern California the database is way out of date, and I expect it will stay that way -- and hence useless -- until someone can point ordinary users to good apps/website for updating it here.

Ray

 

[KevinSharpe]

From my perspective in northern California the database is way out of date, and I expect it will stay that way -- and hence useless -- until someone can point ordinary users to good apps/website for updating it here.

Why not use the CarStations App?

http://carstations.com/

 

[planet4ever]

From my perspective in northern California the database is way out of date, and I expect it will stay that way -- and hence useless -- until someone can point ordinary users to good apps/website for updating it here.

Why not use the CarStations App?

http://carstations.com/

Much better. Thanks.

Ray