You’ve planned the perfect scenic road trip and can’t wait to put the pedal to the metal in your new electric car.
How much money and time you spend dedicated to charging your EV depends on when and where you plug-in. But electric car charging stations are not everywhere along Route 66 just yet.
You’re halfway down highway heaven when you decide to make an impromptu stop by the wildlife safari center, to see 1,400 acres of animals roaming in their wild habitat. At the end of your journey, you realize the closest charging station is far away and your battery is fading fast.
Situations like this one are precisely why it’s so important that electric car owners know how and where to recharge. And, it’s not enough to map out the charging stations close to home (although these might the ones you frequent the most often). But, like the scenario above describes, there are times when you might need to charge your battery in less familiar territory, as well.
Not to worry. We’re here to help. Before you take your next road trip, read on to find out how and where to charge your electric car, no matter where life takes you!
Electric Cars Come With Unique Benefits…& Challenges
In 2018, the number of electric cars on the road in the United States hit one million, and electric car sales increased a whopping 81% over the year.
Along with more electric car drivers on the roads today, there is also a wider variety of electric car types available for drivers to choose from, as well. Modern-day drivers can choose from over 40 types of electric cars, including plug-in hybrids. This is a far cry from just a decade ago when there were only 3 different types of electric car models available.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, hybrid and plug-in electric cars come with a long list of benefits, including increased energy security, improved fuel economy, lower fuel costs, and reduced emissions. But along with unique benefits, electric vehicles also have some unique challenges, too.
One of the challenges that all-electric car owners face is finding a place to recharge when their vehicle’s battery is low. Additionally, they need to know how to recharge their cars, as well.
Where to Find Electric Car Charging Stations
Luckily, there are several handy resources available that map out the locations of electric car charging stations.
The Open Charge Map is a global public database that includes charging stations from locations all over the world. This tool is especially helpful to those drivers who travel outside of the country. You can access the database on the Open Charge Map website, or you can download an easy-to-use app on your smartphone to have the information readily available any time you need it.
The U.S. Department of Energy provides a map of all of the electric charging stations throughout the United States and Canada. Their website also allows drivers to get directions from where ever they are located to nearby charging stations on the map. Their map is also accessible via a downloaded app, which is available for both Android and iPhone users.
Charging stations are great. And, today, you can find plenty of locations available in every state and most major cities across the U.S. But, what about those times when you’ve taken a route that’s off the beaten path to a remote area where there are no nearby charging stations to be found?
An On-the-Go Charging Option For Electric Vehicles
Let’s go back to the scenario described at the start of this post. Imagine that you’re in the same situation as the driver who’s road trip has unfortunately led to an area that doesn’t seem to have any charging stations for electric car drivers to re-boost their automobiles. Now, what?
Well, if you were smart enough to research your options ahead of time, then you may not be in trouble after all. Even in remote areas that don’t have electric charging stations readily accessible, there is one way to recharge your electric vehicle: a solar-kit.
A solar kit is a portable solar-powered system, with fully compatible components that include solar panels, charge controllers, and solar generators to allow for seamless generator operation – or basically a portable charging station for your electric auto. These ingenious inventions rely on a portable generator that can go with you where ever you go for an easy, on-the-go recharge whenever you need it.
There are several different portable solar generator kits on the market that drivers can choose from. Before purchasing one for yourself, take a look at online Reviews on Solar Kits to determine which one is right for you.
Then, be sure to bring your solar kit along when you head out on the open road to any areas where it’s unlikely that you’ll find a charging station nearby. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to keep your solar-kit handy whenever you’re out and about in your electric car, just to be on the safe side.
After all, who knows where life might take you?
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