Global EV Charging Points with Open Charge Map

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

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  • Multiple reports of outdated or incorrect OCM entries (removed or long‑broken chargers).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.