It’s Easy To Find Nearby EV Charging Stations With The EV Connect App

There are over 228,000 public electric vehicle (EV) charging ports in the United States, but when the low battery warning appears on your car’s display, it’s only the nearest charging station that matters. How do you find it? 

This blog will explain how to find EV charging stations with our app, and why it’s more reliable than asking your voice assistant in a panic, or typing into your search engine at the last minute.

By using the app, you’ll get better results, save money, and avoid traveling out of your way for a station that’s not in use. 

Set up Your EV Connect App

The charging station supplies the power, but it’s the app that controls the transfer. Your first step, therefore, is to download the EV Connect app from whichever store (Google or Apple) works with your smartphone. 

Create an account and add a payment method. Having identified yourself and your vehicle, you can now get on with identifying the station for your next charge.

Search for Nearby EV Charging Stations

By leveraging location-based services on your smartphone, the app will scan the surrounding area (or destination) for partner charging stations. Most drivers will do this before taking a longer journey so that they can plan their route to incorporate an electric refueling stop on the way. 

You can search by location, station ID, availability, power level and accessibility. For example, if you’re only looking for a DCFC charging station, you can filter out any Level 2 stations. If you want to look for stations with amenities on-site (such as restrooms or a cafe), you can customize your search. 

Charging at Your Preferred EV Station

To begin charging, scan the station QR code or enter the station ID on the EV connect app and follow the instructions. Plugging in the nozzle alone won’t begin the charging process. Bear in mind that if you’re using a Tesla Supercharger, you’ll have to charge and pay using the Tesla app instead. 

As soon as you’ve finished, you’ll receive an email or app notification (choose your preferred option in preferences) to confirm the session details and total cost. You’ll also receive a receipt for your payment which you’ll need if you’re claiming travel expenses for work, for example. 

Benefits of Using the EV Connect App

EV charging unlocks a range of benefits that weren’t typically available for petrol-driven vehicles using gas pumps. By managing all purchases through an app, EV Connect allows drivers to:

• Save their favorites, for a given route perhaps, so that you only need to search for a station once

• See charging and payment history - an essential tool for operators of EV fleet vehicles in tracking and managing fleet cost

• Reserve a charging spot in advance to minimize time spent recharging and optimize time at rest. For example, you could combine your Level 2 charging with a gym session, haircut or restaurant meal depending on local services

EVoucher benefits

On this last point, EV Connect customers can even participate in the EVouchers scheme with partner businesses. This scheme allows EV charging station managers to collaborate with local businesses to offer perks to members. 

Drivers can earn reward points with every charging session, which they can then redeem for discounts at local businesses. Likewise, points accumulated at retail stores, hospitality venues and so on can be redeemed for free or discount charging at participating EV Connect stations. 

Find Your Way Forward With EV Connect

Thanks to the open network that EV Connect software uses, drivers have access to a wide variety of charging stations, and the number is on a steady upward curve. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program is geared towards expanding the network across all 50 US states, with a vision of establishing a truly interconnected network that serves all communities. 

And for drivers, it all starts from the app on your phone in your pocket. 

About EV Connect

EV Connect is the comprehensive EV charging platform for companies of all sizes to build, run, and scale their EV charging business. Trusted by CPOs, OEMs, fleets, utilities, and more, we’ve delivered charging solutions for U.S. businesses which enable over 4 billion miles of travel! 

Learn about our EV charging software, explore our EV charging network, and download the EV Connect app today!