Statista reports that as of February 2021, the U.S. has nearly 100,000 charging outlets designated for electric vehicles (EVs) located across the country. Those numbers are bound to increase, and there’s no surprise as to why. After all, having EV charging stations nearby is the only way to make owning an EV practical. The good news is that finding an EV charging station nearby is pretty simple, especially if you’re using Google Maps.

How to find EV charging stations nearby

Do you know how to find an EV charging station near you? While Statista reports that there are 100,000 charging outlets located across the country, you may not know how to find the closest charging station to you. The good news is that finding EV charging stations nearby isn’t all that difficult. In fact, it’s pretty easy.

According to Car and Driver, several apps and websites help EV owners locate charging stations nearest to them. Some of the most commonly used EV apps include PlugShare, Open Charge Map, and ChargeHub. PlugShare, for example, is a free app available for iOS, Android, and the web. It allows users to locate EV charging stations nearby, leave reviews, and even pay for charging.

And if you aren’t sold on using an app? The good news is that using an EV app isn’t the only way to find charging stations nearby. If you use Google Maps, finding EV charging stations nearby is a very simple process. But don’t just take our word for it. Let’s talk about how you can use Google Maps to find an EV charging station near you.

Can you use Google Maps to find EV charging stations near you?

Yes, you can use Google Maps to find EV charging stations. You can do much more than that too. As a matter of fact, in 2019, Google introduced the ability to not only locate charging stations nearby using Google Maps, but it also introduced the ability to see the real-time availability of charging stations near you. Using Google Maps, you can also see the business where the charging station is located, along with what port types are offered and how fast charging is.

Google’s rating and reviews feature also works with Google Maps. Meaning, every time you use Google Maps to locate an EV charging station nearby, you’ll also be able to see photos of the station itself and read actual user reviews. “Combined with Google Maps existing rating and review features, the functionality should make it a lot easier to find a charger that’s not occupied, that’s in good working order, and that’s compatible with your car,” The Verge reports.

How to use Google Maps to find EV charging stations

Using Google Maps to locate charging stations isn’t all that difficult. If you’ve ever used Google Maps before, chances are you’ll have no trouble using it to find a charging station near you. But if you’re unfamiliar with it? Let’s get into how to use Google Maps to find EV charging stations.

First, if you have Google Maps built into your car, simply open the app and enter your destination. Once you have entered your destination into the app, tap ‘Add charging stop.’ Google Maps will then pull up EV charging stations along your route. Simply choose a charging station and let Google Maps do the rest.

And if you’re using the app? Simply enter ‘EV charging stations’ into the search bar, and the app will automatically list EV charging stations nearby. You can use Google Maps within your browser to do the same. Once you have selected a charging station, Google Maps will provide you with turn-by-turn directions to it.

Do you know where you’ll be charging your EV next?

If you own an EV, it’s a good idea to understand how to find EV charging stations in your area. After all, if your EV is low on power, you’re going to need to plug it in. Fortunately, Google Maps makes finding charging stations a pretty manageable task.