Many cars now on the road are hybrids or completely electrically powered. The current state of charging stations is not as robust as the network of gas stations that exist in the USA. Due to the limited range and challenges for charging, having a uniformed experience for wazers who operate an electric vehicle is important.
Naming
Some EV charging stations are part of a national or regional network. These are known as "networked" charging stations. Charging stations that are not part of a network are known as "non-networked" charging stations.
Networked charging stations
Networked charging stations should be named with the network name, followed by a hyphen, followed by the location name. The location name should generally match the name used by the charging network, if the name used by the charging station provider is reasonably useful to the driver.
For example,
- Electrify America - Walmart 402 Breaux Bridge
- EVgo - University Mall
- Francis Energy - 310 W Trudgeon St Henryetta
- Tesla Supercharger - Las Vegas, NV - Bridger Avenue
Add "EV Charging Station" as an alternate name to all EV charging stations.
Non-networked charging stations
Non-networked charging stations should be named with the words "Charging Station", followed by a hyphen, followed by the location name. For example,
- Charging Station - Freedom Nissan
- Charging Station - Pontchartrain Park
- Charging Station - Premium Parking P376
- Charging Station - Whole Foods
Add "EV Charging Station" as an alternate name to all EV charging stations.
Description
Connector Type
Currently there are multiple types of connectors for charging electric vehicles, which are not universally compatible. Listing the connector type in the description field is critical to allow drivers to pick the correct charging station. The most common types of charging connectors are: J1772, J1772 CHAdeMO, NEMA520, J1772 COMBO, CHAdeMO
- J1772 Connector
Number of spaces
An important consideration for many EV users is the number of spaces reserved for charging. Include this information in the description, especially if there is a time limit.
- 2 reserved EV spaces
- 2 reserved EV spaces (30 minutes maximum)
Public or private
If not open to the public, please indicate any restrictions that may exist preventing access to the charging station
- Private - employee use only
- Payment to park required
Details
Please remember to include URL, and hours for the charging station (no one wants to arrive late at night to find it closed). WMEPH can be helpful in ensuring harmonization of naming and details.
Locking
Lock charging stations to the same level you would a gas station in your state.
Resources
Charging network station locators
National
- ChargePoint - Station Map
- Electrify America - Locate a Charger
- EVgo - Find a Charger
- Tesla - Find Us
Regional
- Francis Energy - Stations Near You (Oklahoma)