Recargo Adds Coulomb ChargePoint Locations to Mobile Charging Database

By Zach McDonald · September 13, 2011

Mobile charging app developer Recargo announced today that it has added hundreds of charging stations from Coulomb's ChargePoint network to its database. Recargo is a crowdsourced charging “maps and apps” provider, offering locations, up-to-the-minute availability, real-time user comments and images, and an electric vehicle news feed courtesy of PluginCars.com.

The Recargo iPhone app has been downloaded by more than 15,000 users in 122 countries so far. It differs from many other services in that registered users can both draw from pre-loaded networks like Coulomb's ChargePoint, or add charging stations to the database themselves. Comments and user-loaded images also help to take the guesswork out of finding a charger in an unfamiliar area.

“Working with Coulomb and using their open API is an important step in Recargo’s ongoing effort to be the most trusted and easy-to-use resource for electric vehicle drivers,” said Recargo CEO Brian Kariger in a press release. “When a Recargo user searches for the best place to charge their car, they can find current locations with up-to-the-minute availability status from the ChargePoint Network, a worldwide leader in electric mobility.”

In June, Recargo updated its software to version 1.5, and will soon expand its reach beyond the iPhone to include Android platform mobile devices as well.

About the author

· Zach McDonald

Zach McDonald is a writer from New York City. He has been covering alternative fuel vehicles, politics and energy policy for HybridCars.com and PluginCars.com since moving to Oakland five years ago. His first car was a late '80s Chevy Caprice Classic and he looks forward to his next being a plug-in—preferably with a working radio.

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Comments

· scottinwashington · 35 weeks ago

Like all the other apps, there are many public stations missing. It is distressing that with this advanced technology that these companies cannot keep track of their equipment. There are many stations that have been in active use in my area for many months that are never listed in these databases. Fortunately, some like plug-share allow us to add them to the database.

· KeiJidosha · 35 weeks ago

@scottinwashington - Recargo IS crowd source data. So if it's wrong, fix it! Charge sites need local support to keep up with constant change. Recargo is my primary source for charge site info. It has the features that have proved useful like site "Check in" reports, charger "type" filtering, and site picture upload. It is easy to use and update. Only thing missing is Android.

· Joe Barry · 35 weeks ago

When a Recargo user searches for the best place to charge their car, they can find current locations with up-to-the-minute availability status from the ChargePoint Network, a worldwide leader in electric mobility.” There are many stations that have been in active use in my area for many months that are never listed in these databases. Fortunately, some like plug-share allow us to add them to the database.

· Tom K (not verified) · 35 weeks ago

Recargo is my most valuable app for EV locations

· scottinwashington · 35 weeks ago

As an example, there are 8 public charging stations within 10 miles of my office. All are listed in Plug-share,
2 are listed in my Leaf navigation system, 1 in charge point app, 1 in Blink app. Plus the Blink app lists one other that is not public, but is private use for the utility company. Most of these are Blink changing stations and a few AeroVironment. All of these stations have been operational for over 2 months. I just seems that there is a real lack of accuracy.

· Tom K (not verified) · 35 weeks ago

It's going to take the concerted efforts from the EV community to continually update EV stations, including location corrections and pictures, to help build a very lacking charger station infrastructure. Others, like KeiJidoshsa and myself, have contributed greatly with EV site verification...

· Mr. Fusion · 35 weeks ago

Google and Apple maps can find 50 coffee shops around my location. Why not expand that to EV chargers?

· Chris C. (not verified) · 35 weeks ago

My favorite mapping site is www.carstations.com ; they've got excellent info, and aren't missing half the sites like everyone else. Yes, they have the Coulomb sites. It's kind of fun watching their RSS feed and seeing the new stations getting added every day.

They will supposedly have a mobile app out soon, and thank god it won't be iPhone only. Most of us are on Android, you know ...

· Chris C. (not verified) · 35 weeks ago

And Google Maps' EV charger search function is the worst of them all!

· Tom K (not verified) · 35 weeks ago

CarStations now has the app available. It's pretty good...

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Recargo Adds Coulomb ChargePoint Locations to Mobile Charging Database

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