Guides to public EV charging
- EV charging speeds: AC, fast and ultra fast
What AC, fast and ultra fast charging mean, how long a stop takes, and why your car sets the pace as much as the charger.
5 minute read
- EV plug types: CCS2, Type 2, CHAdeMO, NACS and more
Which charging plug your car uses, where each one is found, and what to check before you rely on an adapter.
5 minute read
- Where ChargeAlong's charger data comes from
ChargeAlong's charging sites come from Open Charge Map, government lists and Charge@Large. What we show, what we leave out, and how to correct a record.
3 minute read
- Planning a road trip in an electric car
How to plan a long drive with the trip planner, why 300 to 400 km of range is plenty, and how to take the route into Google Maps, Apple Maps or CarPlay.
6 minute read
- How to choose an electric car
What matters when you choose an electric car: real range, charging speed and the curve, battery size, plugs and efficiency. Compare any two cars side by side.
7 minute read
- Charging on a road trip, the first time
What happens at a public charger: starting a charge, paying, how long to stay, what to do when a charger is broken, and the manners that keep everyone moving.
6 minute read
- How long does it take to charge an electric car?
From a few hours at home to twenty minutes on a highway: how long each kind of charging takes, what sets the pace, and real figures for cars on ChargeAlong.
5 minute read
- How far can an electric car really go?
Rated range against the range you get: what speed, weather, load and driving style take off it, how to estimate yours, and why the answer is still far enough.
5 minute read
- Charging an electric car at home
A wall box or a socket, single or three phase, what it costs against petrol, off peak tariffs and solar, and what to do if you park on the street.
6 minute read
- Charging an electric car in Australia
The charging networks, plugs and payment in Australia, what the highways are like between the cities, and where to look before a long drive.
5 minute read
- Charging an electric car in New Zealand
The charging networks, plugs and payment in New Zealand, what the state highways are like on both islands, and where to look before a long drive.
5 minute read
- Charging an electric car in the United Kingdom
The charging networks, plugs and payment in the UK, what the motorways are like, and where to look before a long drive.
5 minute read
- Charging an electric car in the United States
The charging networks, plugs and payment in the United States, the move to NACS, what the interstates are like, and where to look before a long drive.
5 minute read
- Charging an electric car in Canada
The charging networks, plugs and payment in Canada, what the Trans Canada and the winter are like, and where to look before a long drive.
5 minute read
- What it costs to charge an electric car
Public and home charging, per kWh and per 100 km, against petrol; why fast charging costs more; and how the price on a charger's page is read.
5 minute read
- Electric cars in cold weather
Why winter takes range off an electric car, how much, what a heat pump and preconditioning do about it, and how to charge and drive when it is cold.
5 minute read
- Towing and carrying loads with an electric car
What towing does to range, which electric cars can tow and how much, charging with a trailer on, and planning a trip that tows.
4 minute read
- Buying a used electric car
Battery health and how to check it, what the warranty still covers, the plugs and software to look for, and why a used electric car is often the better buy.
5 minute read
- Electric car words, explained
kW and kWh, state of charge, regen, LFP and NMC, V2L, OCPP and the rest: the words on a charger, a car page or a forum, in plain terms.
6 minute read