Just when it seems like there are more apps to help EV owners find public plugs than there are actual charging stations, a new player has entered the game.
Recargo, from Dictionary.com founder Brian Kariger, offers a searchable database of the world’s charging stations. Like similar apps, Recargo relies on data from the US Department of Energy’s master list of public charging stations, refining that compendium with user-supplied reports of whether they’re in working order or easily accessible.
Unlike similar apps, however, Recargo also features Google Street View images of more than 1,000 EV charging sites worldwide. That way you’ll be able to see for yourself if the station is hidden at the back of a garage or in the middle of a desolate unlit parking lot.
“Our goal is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by giving drivers instant access to the information they need to make range anxiety a figment of the imagination,” Kariger said. “Up-to-the-minute reports from the roadside are part of the answer.” In addition, drivers get a news feed of the latest EV industry and policy updates.
Already, competitor PlugShare has made a name for itself as the nation’s largest EV charging network, creating a virtual infrastructure of EV supporters willing to share their garages and outdoor plugs with drivers of electric vehicles. While they’re similar, the two apps seem to occupy distinct niches: PlugShare is a social network for EV owners and supporters, while Recargo feels like more of a compendium of all things EV.
We say good luck to all the players in this crowded field. But even the snazziest app won’t help without a robust public charging infrastructure.
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