EV fueling stations now on Google Maps

(PhysOrg.com) -- Having an electric can can be a challenge for the owners. Unless you have spent a fair amount of time doing the research and making calls, getting your charge on when you are away from home can present more than a modest challenge. The bottom line is that, for now at least, electric car owners have to deal with an infrastructure problem that is not faced by their fossil-fuel powered counterparts.

Even now, as electric cars become mass-market items and the stations that will power them become increasingly more common, finding the power stations is not exactly an easy task. Google is hoping to make a small contribution that will make the life of an electric car owner a bit less like a research project, and a bit more like getting from point A to B without stress. They are adding the locations of electric vehicle (EV) fueling stations to their maps. That way whether you need a quick fill up, or you are planning a cross-country road trip, you will be able to find what you need without having to know where it is already.

Data on the charging stations is being provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This data is expected to add an estimated 7,000 alternative fueling stations in the U.S., to Google Maps, along with 600 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) locations.

Users who wish to find EV fueling stations in their area must simply type in the words "ev charging station" and then click on search. They will then be presented with a map of the area with the charging stations highlighted for easy access.

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