Guys, It seems to me that there's really no good, reliable solution for finding charge points using an (iOS) app. For example, we will be attending Embedded World in Nuremberg later this month. I was just looking at where I can charge at or near the hotel we'll be using. I have the following plethora of iOS apps installed:
e-WHh
The New Motion
E-rijden
Oplaadpunten
ChargeMap
Fastned
PlugSurfing
Open Charge Map
Plugshare
Since I gather that a lot of you use PlugSurfing, I started there. Good news, it lists a charge point 763m from the hotel. Better news - it lists the charge point as being from "The New Motion". So just to cross check, I checked on the New Motion app - no charge point mentioned. Hmmm... Worse, the New Motion app says "No charge points found that apply to your filter settings". Ok... so my filter settings are "All Cars" from 7.4kw, type 2. Could be correct, but when I switch to map view it shows a charge point at 6.1miles (not km, you understand. Must be something to do with my phone being in English - all anglos are stuck in imperial units, as everyone knows). Ah, boll**ks.
So I then tried my favourite, ChargeMap, which listed the nearest charge point as being 5.4km from the hotel. No charge point close to the hotel. Next try: Oplaadpunten, which distinguishes itself by not having a search function. Scrolling the map to Nuremberg, I find... ...that it lists the charge point also noted by PlugSurfing, but the details are sketchy: not clear how to pay ("oplaadpas"), power rating not listed. But worst of all it lists the status as "niet beschikbaar"... HOWEVER, there's a second entry, with the same address that is listed as being available. WTF?
Open Charge Map: "0 results match your search" (at least it has a search function).
PlugShare: "no stations found"
e-KWh: nearest charge point = 56.8km
E-rijden: nearest charge point = Berlin
This is amazing and totally crap, not least considering the number of IT people driving around in Tesla's. Excuse my simple thinking, but I would have thought that a reliable map/database of charge points would be part of the "whole product" experience and that therefore SOMEONE, perhaps even Tesla, would take the trouble to set one up. Ok, I'm sure that Tesla have their hands full with stuff, but maybe they could encourage/sponsor someone else to do a decent job? ChargeMap is half decent and is sponsored by Nissan, so maybe Tesla should join up with them and ensure the other half gets done. I don't know, but what I do know is that this is the most problematic aspect of driving an EV into the unknown and it needs fixing...
Or can someone suggest the 9th, 10th or 11th app that I should install?
Cheers. Rob.
e-WHh
The New Motion
E-rijden
Oplaadpunten
ChargeMap
Fastned
PlugSurfing
Open Charge Map
Plugshare
Since I gather that a lot of you use PlugSurfing, I started there. Good news, it lists a charge point 763m from the hotel. Better news - it lists the charge point as being from "The New Motion". So just to cross check, I checked on the New Motion app - no charge point mentioned. Hmmm... Worse, the New Motion app says "No charge points found that apply to your filter settings". Ok... so my filter settings are "All Cars" from 7.4kw, type 2. Could be correct, but when I switch to map view it shows a charge point at 6.1miles (not km, you understand. Must be something to do with my phone being in English - all anglos are stuck in imperial units, as everyone knows). Ah, boll**ks.
So I then tried my favourite, ChargeMap, which listed the nearest charge point as being 5.4km from the hotel. No charge point close to the hotel. Next try: Oplaadpunten, which distinguishes itself by not having a search function. Scrolling the map to Nuremberg, I find... ...that it lists the charge point also noted by PlugSurfing, but the details are sketchy: not clear how to pay ("oplaadpas"), power rating not listed. But worst of all it lists the status as "niet beschikbaar"... HOWEVER, there's a second entry, with the same address that is listed as being available. WTF?
Open Charge Map: "0 results match your search" (at least it has a search function).
PlugShare: "no stations found"
e-KWh: nearest charge point = 56.8km
E-rijden: nearest charge point = Berlin
This is amazing and totally crap, not least considering the number of IT people driving around in Tesla's. Excuse my simple thinking, but I would have thought that a reliable map/database of charge points would be part of the "whole product" experience and that therefore SOMEONE, perhaps even Tesla, would take the trouble to set one up. Ok, I'm sure that Tesla have their hands full with stuff, but maybe they could encourage/sponsor someone else to do a decent job? ChargeMap is half decent and is sponsored by Nissan, so maybe Tesla should join up with them and ensure the other half gets done. I don't know, but what I do know is that this is the most problematic aspect of driving an EV into the unknown and it needs fixing...
Or can someone suggest the 9th, 10th or 11th app that I should install?
Cheers. Rob.