The Complete Guide to Charging Your EV in Public

As the owner of an electric vehicle, one of the most significant responsibilities is to ensure that your car is charged. Keeping a consistent 20% to 80% charge in your electric vehicle is the best way to go about it. This charging tip can help your presence in the EV's range capabilities.

But, you might have to take the help of a public charging station if the battery percentage is dipping below the range. If you're facing difficulties with public EV charging stations, this article will help you out!

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Finding EV Charging Stations

If you are not aware of nearby public EV charging stations, we've got you covered! There are already several apps that help you locate public EV charging stations near you. Check out these apps:

• Google Maps: Most of you probably know how this navigation tool works. Apart from showing you accurate routes, it can also spot nearby stores and services near you. You can type “EV charging stations near me” on the search box, and the results will pop up!
• Tata Power EZ Charge: Tata's app provides an extensive charging station network for its users. The app includes all the essential details you require for a positive charging experience. It gives you information about the station´s operation hours, real-time status, and distance. You can also use the app to pay on the charging stations.
• EV Plugs: EV Plug boasts a comprehensive network of 1000 EV charging stations across India. The app claims to be the first EV charging station aggregator. It informs you about the nearest charging stations from players such as Tata Power, EESL, Ather, Magenta. You can also choose your vehicle type on the app, i.e., two-wheeler or four-wheeler.

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What to Consider in an EV Charging Station?

Since public EV charging stations are still a relatively recent phenomen in India, it is essential to understand your options. When you decide to use a public EV charging station, you need to note what EV plugs they offer. The EV plugs should match the configuration of your car.

Since there are no agreed-upon standards for EV plugs, you might have to do some digging to find one suited for your car. Below, we have listed the different types of EV plugs:

• Type 1 AC Charger
• Type 2 Charger
• Combined Charging System
• CHAdeMo Charger
• GB/T Charger

It would be best to consider how powerful the EV charger at the station is to determine the charging time.

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If you want to skip the hassles of public charging stations, you can build a personal charging station at home or own a portable charger. In any case, charging an EV is a super-simple task!