With gas prices soaring above $5 a gallon, many people are considering the switch to an electric vehicle. Whether you're new to not needing gas or a time-honored Tesla owner looking for a new spot to grab a charge, there are over 100 charging locations with varying options and prices in the Cincinnati area for when you're out and about and in need of a charge.
Here are some resources to find your next favorite charging spot in Cincinnati.
PlugShare
PlugShare is a user-sourced map that compiles charging resources across the United States. Users input charging stations and check in when they visit, and they can rate and review each station for other users to see. Entries include address, price, the type of plug, photos of the location and more.
Check-ins can give users a good idea of whether or not their model can be charged at a specific location, as well as other important information. A "Plugscore" lets users quickly see how others have rated a station. Green icons on the map indicate public charging stations, while orange icons indicate a high-power charging station.
You can find the PlugShare map at plugshare.com
ChargeHub
In addition to its general information pages about electric vehicle charging in cities across the United States, ChargeHub also has a user-sourced map with icons denoting Level 1, Level 2 and Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) charging stations. Level 1 stations charge slower at 120 volts, and Level 2 stations are faster and most common in the area at 240 volts. DCFC, at 480 volts, charges the fastest.
The ChargeHug map has markers for stations that are open, busy or offline, too. It also includes information about charger types, cost, hours, locations and more.
You can find the ChargeHub map at chargehub.com
Charges free of charge?
While it doesn't cost as much as filling up with several gallons of gasoline, charging at most stations does have a cost. However, if you're looking for free charging, there are a few options across the area. You can use the PlugShare or ChargeHub maps to look for free charging stations or reference Apollo Home's list of free stations.
According to an article by Kelly Blue Book, places that have free charging are not always in the most convenient locations, like car dealerships or hotels. Some of these free-charging locations require patronage at the business to be able to charge there. Regardless, for most electric cars, charging enough to make it the next 100 miles should only cost a few bucks if a free charging station – or your home setup – is too far out of the way.
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