Public charge station lists

[rumpole]

There are a variety of charge station lists, but all have serous shortcomings, and none appear to be emerging as the "standard". The ones I'm aware of that at least cover stations in Northern California are:

http://electric.carstations.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This one is being updated slowly, with a few stations being added each week, but there are many public stations missing.

http://www.mychargepoint.net/find-stations.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Only lists the Coulomb Technologies network stations, and does so in a very difficult fashion. There are almost 200 stations in the Bay Area, but most are not accessible to the general public, and there is no way to filter them out when searching. Google alone has 65 of the 200, and they are for Google fleet and employee use only. Furthermore, there are stations that are not listed. Apple has about a dozen at one of their buildings in Cupertino which do not appear, nor do a pair of stations at the Whole Foods in Lafayette. I'd guess that only three dozen of the 200 are both available to anyone, and well located.

http://blinknetwork.com/locator.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Blink network only, and just recently went live. There isn't much here yet.

http://www.evchargermaps.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
To my knowledge the original list going back many years. It is a nice, fast interface with a smartphone app option, but the data is stale and not being updated. Why is a mystery. With a little bit of attention and a bit of housecleaning, this could be what we're all looking for. Data comes from http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/progs/i" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... hp/CA/ELEC and user reports.

http://www.recargo.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Contains much of the old data that evchargermaps has.

There's also Plugshare, which is an iPhone app that doesn't have a web interface. It seems to be stagnant and has some erroneous entries.

That's my take on these different resources in Northern California. I'd like to hear what others think, especially how they compare in other regions.

Plugshare does has a web interface on their site http://www.plugshare.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . I like plugshare, since it is manufacturer agnostic. Coulomb has their EVSE map, SemaConnect has their EVSE map, but plugshare has them all, plus Nissan dealers and individual drivers. I've been going to EVSE's in my local area (Northern suburbs of Washington DC) and adding reviews to EVSE's from the drivers point of view. Just going to address sometimes can be misleading, since that's often the station owners address, and not where the actual device is located. You can add pictures to Plugshare as well, which helps.

 

[garygid]

Well, I can download, install, and run Leaf Control 1.7 on my Vizio (Android v2.3.2) tablet.

However no battery status other than "Not plugged in" and "(0%)" is shown on the Green screen.

I get "Sorry, problem starting connection with OpenChargeMap" when I ask for an "EV sockets map".

"Login" just shows "Done".

"Login and Refresh" says it is (something like) "collecting data in the background".

Nothing helpful to fix the problems.

Am I missing sonething critical?

Does this app need some "snartphone" feature?

NissanUSA owners portal works OK, ad shows my battery status.

 

[KevinSharpe]

Plugshare does has a web interface on their site http://www.plugshare.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes, but no license that allows you to use the data. The real issue here is that once you've supplied the data to Plugshare they own it and you no longer have any ownership of that data for use in another app or website... ultimately, this model will fail because we are all contributing to well over 100 closed apps and websites and the number grows every week.

We all need to coalesce around an open, crowd sourced, database that websites and apps can use to build the functionality that we desire. A good example is the ZeroNet map that uses OCM Charging Station data combined with marketing data from a third party;

http://www.zerocarbonworld.org/zero-net

 

[Desertstraw]

I am especially interested in L3 chargers since I think their deployment will bring about a much more rapid switch to electric vehicles. Maybe my skill with Google is not as good as I thought but I cannot find a good source for operational L3 chargers on the internet.

From http://www.theevproject.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;:

"what?
Approximately 14,000 Level 2 (240VAC) chargers
Approximately 400 DC Fast Charger ports
8,300 grid-connected vehicles including Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt
60+ project partners
1,200 jobs created or retained
by 2012
18 major cities and metropolitan areas in 6 states and the District of Columbia

"when?
Winter 2010: Initial infrastructure deployment began.
Nissan launched the Nissan LEAF, a zero emission pure electric vehicle. GM launched the Chevrolet Volt, an electric vehicle with extended range.
Winter 2011: Intended target for entire infrastructure deployment."

Obviously this goal was not met. But, if and when they actually install 400 fast chargers distance, travel around the country with an ev will only be slightly slower than with an ICE.

 

[jstone1]

Well, I can download, install, and run Leaf Control 1.7 on my Vizio (Android v2.3.2) tablet.

However no battery status other than "Not plugged in" and "(0%)" is shown on the Green screen.
I get "Sorry, problem starting connection with OpenChargeMap" when I ask for an "EV sockets map".
"Login" just shows "Done".
"Login and Refresh" says it is (something like) "collecting data in the background".
Nothing helpful to fix the problems.
Am I missing sonething critical?
Does this app need some "snartphone" feature?
NissanUSA owners portal works OK, ad shows my battery status.

Thanks Gary, looking into it. I'll double check the US server URLs, might be that I put a typo somewhere. Based in the UK and testing on my own LEAF only gets me so far!

Regards,
Jeremy

 

[CWO4Mann]

The ability to easily calculate road distances between chargers would be a boon. At present I use MapQuest, put in the addresses of chargers, then run a strip map then send to the Leaf. Pretty awkward and inefficient. How nice to be able to tap in a start and stop point and immediately have charging stations pop up enroute with a "go/no-go" message.

Dave

 

[ksnogas2112]

Here are the current (pardon pun) evse locations in the kc metro as published by electric company.

The one at Union Station is free but you have to pay to park but that's regardless of electric or gas car.


http://www.kcplsave.com/residential/programs_and_services/plug_in_vehicles/announcement.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[CWO4Mann]

Here is the latest propaganda from the Blinkers:

-------------------------
Hello Dave,
We apologize, but currently all of the QC Level 3 charging stations in Tennessee are awaiting parts so they may be repaired and fully operational.

Brian Kozma

Blink Network Contact Center

From: Dave Mann [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 10:13 AM
To: Support, Blink Network
Subject: New Submission: The EV Project Contact

Your Message

The QC Level 3 at Cracker Barrel in Murfreesboro, TN is still broken. I drive a Leaf all over the Metro Nashville area on courier runs and that always-broken QC in M'boro really limits my trips down there from town and back. I know there have been complaints about this machine (http://www.mynissan.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; forum) but wonder if there will be any progress anytime soon?