Great app for finding charging stations on road trips

[kgpowell]

I have not seen this mentioned, but iExit is a great resource for finding charging stations. When you're on an interstate, it lists, for each upcoming exit, what's there, including charging stations. It has the network, connector type, and number of ports listed. Also, it has has food choices at the exits. On a recent trip, we found the way it presents the data much handier than Ford's Public Charging map, or Apple Maps. In conjunction with Plug Share, it has all the info you need.

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[JohnFoxeSheets]

Thanks! I'd never heard of it and just downloaded it. I notice that for fuel type it doesn't list EV. Did you find a way to specify that you're driving an electric car? (I've not tried it out on the road yet, so I don't have any experience with its real-world usage.)

 

[kgpowell]

At Home, click on the highway you’re on. Then, across the top are choices: all exits, fuel prices, all food, all lodging, electric charging stations. Click on the last one

 

[Mach-DB]

Does the app display on Apple CarPlay?

 

[RickMachE]

Plan your trip with ABRP, check each charging location with PlugShare.

 

[silverelan]

It’s so clunky using all of these different apps! Why can’t we have a single app that combines route mapping, charging station info & availability, plus nearby amenities?

 

[Vulnox]

It’s so clunky using all of these different apps! Why can’t we have a single app that combines route mapping, charging station info & availability, plus nearby amenities?

I agree with this, especially the nearby part. I was doing the return trip from Indy to Detroit recently and took 24 East which has a number of exits. Apple Maps and ABRP kept recommending this 50kW charger at a GMC dealer, which I didn't love but I only needed about 10% to get home so I wasn't going to fight too much and I needed to stop for lunch anyway. But getting a clear idea of what all is around means stopping to look around on apple maps or google maps, make sure it's in walking distance, etc.

I would love if ABRP just had a "show me what food/snack locations are within a 5 minute walk of each stop".

This is the aspect of road tripping an EV that can actually be better than ICE in some ways since with ICE you have to stop at the gas station, wait at the pump while it fills, then drive to wherever you want to get food. I am eager for the day I can just pull up to an EV charger, plug in, an walk away right into a convenience store or wendy's or whatever. Most of my road trip charging stops are only 15-20 minutes which is about how long our stops for gas and food are with ICE on road trips. We just need better amenities options near chargers.

 

[Snakebitten]

1 app for everything?

Every app developer thinks theirs is it!

 

[Tampamike]

I agree with this, especially the nearby part. I was doing the return trip from Indy to Detroit recently and took 24 East which has a number of exits. Apple Maps and ABRP kept recommending this 50kW charger at a GMC dealer, which I didn't love but I only needed about 10% to get home so I wasn't going to fight too much and I needed to stop for lunch anyway. But getting a clear idea of what all is around means stopping to look around on apple maps or google maps, make sure it's in walking distance, etc.

I would love if ABRP just had a "show me what food/snack locations are within a 5 minute walk of each stop".

This is the aspect of road tripping an EV that can actually be better than ICE in some ways since with ICE you have to stop at the gas station, wait at the pump while it fills, then drive to wherever you want to get food. I am eager for the day I can just pull up to an EV charger, plug in, an walk away right into a convenience store or wendy's or whatever. Most of my road trip charging stops are only 15-20 minutes which is about how long our stops for gas and food are with ICE on road trips. We just need better amenities options near chargers.

It’s getting better with the different charging brands expanding. I can usually walk to get food at almost every place I stop. I get fresh sandwiches at Publix, BK, Arby’s, Panera, Moe’s, etc. Pilot truck stop had a Steak and Shake in the building and then of course there’s Buc-ee’s. You could live there for a while if you wanted. Interestingly, some of the Tesla chargers are in really odd spots, at least two of which I wouldn’t want to go to at night and one I kinda felt a little uneasy in the daytime. Even the WalMarts usually have some kind of food nearby, but not all. This ,ast trip, there was only one stop I made that had nothing.

 

[benk016]

I would love if ABRP just had a "show me what food/snack locations are within a 5 minute walk of each stop".

It does show this for every charger. Just select a charger and scroll down a little. Shoes near by food, hotels, and shopping.

 

[Tampamike]

The car has some of that built into the nav as well. Click on the tools icon on the map at bottom left. Then click “up ahead” and also “exit services.”

 

[Doobster6]

It’s so clunky using all of these different apps! Why can’t we have a single app that combines route mapping, charging station info & availability, plus nearby amenities?

Er…ah, I think you just described Tesla…..

 

[Space_Pony]

It does show this for every charger. Just select a charger and scroll down a little. Shoes near by food, hotels, and shopping.

How about prices?

 

[benk016]

How about prices?

If it has the info it shows it. And if you have a route it shows you an estimated cost as well for that stop.

 

[Vulnox]

It does show this for every charger. Just select a charger and scroll down a little. Shoes near by food, hotels, and shopping.

Well dang, maybe it's because I was just looking at routes and not selecting the charger, will have to mess with it.

Today I learned though, go ABRP!

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