Electric vehicle use is set to expand rapidly, but and one of the short term problems is shaping up to be the availability of charging station infrastructure. Mobile technology seems to have arrived at just the right time to support the most efficient use of what are likely to be scarce resources and this iPhone application from Coulomb Technologies is an early example. It not only allows you to locate the nearest ChargePoint Networked Charging Station but also tells you if the charging station is currently available, in use, out of service.
EV drivers can tap into their GPS to find the nearest charging station anywhere in North America and get turn-by-turn directions to its location. A host of other information is provided, such as whether a station is available, in use or out of service, and sessions can be started and stopped from a user’s device.
The app also offers directions from a user’s current location to where their vehicle is charging as well as statistics on their most recent charge like energy, greenhouse gas savings, and real time notification of the status of their current charge. Users can also access their ChargePoint Network account via the application.
The ChargePoint app is free and available for download from the iTunes Store.
Via: Coulomb Technologies.
But it will be nice having fast charging which the new EV standard plug does, 70 amps at 240vac, will charge my eff 100 mile range EV back up in 30 minutes. Even from a 120vdc plug I charge 18miles range/hr charging, over doubling my range/day even from 120vac plugs.
Sadly most EV\'s that will be available will be heavy, 4-5 passenger car style instead of 1-2 passenger commuter lightweight, safe, stronger than steel, composite body/chassis that will need 1/3-1/2 the weight, battery, EV drive costs both to buy and run are the real future for EV\'s. Very few US trips ar made with more than 2 people/car and few over 40 miles.
All I can say is it costs me 25% of what it costs an ICE of the same type to drive my EV.And as gas prices rise, it only gets better.