DC fast chargers aren’t as ubiquitous as gas stations or as quick to use as a gas pump, but they’re becoming more common off major highways and at rest stops. Apps such as PlugShare and A Better Routeplanner will help you find them and provide charging speeds and costs. Many in-car navigation systems will do the same. To minimize the hassle, download the apps for various charging networks—Applegreen Electric, ChargePoint, Electrify America, EVgo, Flo, and Tesla—and create accounts with payment information before you hit the road. Wherever you plug in, you’ll have to make sure the charger is compatible with your car. (See our guide to EV charger connectors, below.)
In our experience, it’s rare for an EV to charge at the maximum rate claimed by the manufacturer. No matter how fast the car charges, it will take significantly longer than filling a gas tank, not counting the time you may need to wait your turn in line. On long drives or road trips, you may want to factor in extra time in case a charger isn’t working, it’s occupied, or the EV takes longer to charge than you expected.
Charging differs from pumping gas in a few other ways. For instance, an EV charging cord is heavier than the hoses at gas pumps, and you’ll probably have to plug it in yourself. (We’ve rarely seen a staffed, full-service EV charging station.) Because charging ports are in different places on different models, you may have to park awkwardly for the cord to reach the car, especially if you’re towing or you’re plugging in a non-Tesla at a Supercharger. And if you leave your car parked after charging it, you might automatically incur an idle fee of up to $1 a minute for blocking the space.
See a complete list of the fastest- and slowest-charging EVs (both DC fast and Level 2).
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