PlugShare's Free App Solves the Hardest Part of EV Ownership

TAKING THE GUESSWORK—AND ANXIETY—OUT OF EV CHARGING, ONE ORANGE OR GREEN DOT AT A TIME.

- Erick Ayapana

Electric vehicle adoption in America has included plenty of ups and downs, especially when it comes to charging your big battery on wheels. Juicing up at home is easy, but venturing to another part of town or taking a road trip can quickly make you feel like you're in The Hunger Games. You end up wondering, “Where will I charge? And will that charger even work when I get there?” Back in 2009, the PlugShare app entered the scene to answer those questions. And it has since become one of the most complete and accurate public charger databases, serving as a valuable tool for EV owners old and new. The fact our staff full of EV superusers chose it as the best aftermarket app should tell you exactly how valuable it is.

PlugShare has a rudimentary look and feel, but this simplicity makes it easy to navigate and operate. The app's home screen is dominated by a map littered by colored dots. Green dots indicate Level 1 or 2 chargers, while orange dots are markers for Level 3 fast charging. Chargers that are off limits to the public or not operational are marked by gray dots. Clicking on the dots reveals detailed information about the charger, including its address, affiliated network, plug types, costs, hours of operation, and more.