Global EV Charging Points with Open Charge Map
An open, global dataset of EV charging points (Open Charge Map) is being weighed against proprietary services like PlugShare, Google Maps and national apps for accuracy, usability and long‑term reliability. Commenters highlight trade‑offs between open data and richer, crowdsourced metadata such as photos, pricing and live status, as well as performance and UX issues with current tools. The thread broadens into how fragmented standards, business models for public charging, and policy requirements (like real‑time APIs and widespread slow charging in parking) will shape EV adoption and road‑trip viability.
Open Charge Map vs Other Services
- Compared frequently to PlugShare, OpenStreetMap (OSM), and Google Maps.
- OCM’s main advantages: open data, independent ownership, easy integration, and richer EV-specific metadata than OSM.
- PlugShare praised for photos, comments, maintenance status, basic pricing info, and better accuracy in some regions.
- In other areas (e.g., London), OCM is reported as more complete and accurate than PlugShare; elsewhere, the reverse.
- Some see Google Maps + built‑in reviews/photos as eventually making third‑party apps less necessary.
Data Quality, Coverage, and Openness
- Multiple reports of outdated or incorrect OCM entries (removed or long‑broken chargers).
- PlugShare also incomplete but crowdsourced updates are easy.
- OCM notably missing China; commenters reference massive Chinese infrastructure and ask about official data sources.
- Open data and open APIs seen as strategically important versus closed, operator‑owned datasets.
UI, Performance, and Apps
- OCM’s 3D globe UI widely criticized as “form over function” and janky on some devices/browsers, especially Safari.
- Station detail layout on OCM viewed as poorly prioritized (important info below the fold, no pricing).
- Third‑party apps (e.g., EVMap, ANWB app) highlighted as smoother or more feature‑complete OCM/charging frontends.
Dynamic Data & Integration Challenges
- Static maps (e.g., OSM) can’t solve live availability, pricing, and status; integrating with hundreds to thousands of operators or roaming hubs is complex and commercially sensitive.
- Some argue basic static info (“chargers exist here, X×kW”) is still valuable even without live data.
Business Models and Siting
- Strong sentiment that the “real money” is in co‑located lounges/shops, akin to gas‑station convenience stores or rest stops.
- Others question the economics, noting affluent EV owners mainly charge at home; road‑trip demand may be intermittent.
- Public‑funded incentives can be misused (e.g., “public” chargers effectively hidden on private driveways).
User Experience and Policy
- Experiences range from “Superchargers are seamless and even enjoyable stops” to “public slow charging is a confusing mess of apps, logins, idle fees, and unclear pricing.”
- Regional differences are stark: some countries/regions report near‑ICE convenience; others still have coverage gaps and broken or single‑point‑of‑failure chargers.
- US federal NEVI/CFI programs and standards for open, real‑time status APIs are cited as a positive structural push.