Frequently Asked Questions

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What is ChargePoint?

ChargePoint® is the world's largest and most open EV charging network operating ChargePoint charging stations and hardware from other leading EV charging manufacturers. We connect EV drivers to thousands of independently owned charging stations located where you work, shop and play. Our best-in-class cloud based software helps drivers and station owners manage all their EV charging needs in one place, through their account dashboard. Our mobile app connects drivers on-the-go with access to their account and real-time station availability.

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How do I activate my ChargePoint cards?

To activate your cards go to My Account and select Manage Cards. Make sure you have your ChargePoint cards on hand to enter their serial numbers and select save.

What can I do with a ChargePoint card?

Using your ChargePoint card to access a charging station informs ChargePoint that it is your car charging and allows you to start and stop your charging sessions. You can also choose to be alerted when your car is fully charged, or if charging is interrupted. And you can choose to be reminded when your reservation is about to start or end. Using the ChargePoint mobile app, you can monitor as your car charges, and see your total energy use along with other useful services that make it easier to own an electric vehicle and drive happier.

Why won't the charging station read my ChargePoint card?

Make sure you're holding the card over the smart card reader symbol, and wait a second or two for it to read the card. The smart card reader symbol is shown here:

What happens if I forget my ChargePoint card?

If you arrive at a ChargePoint station without your ChargePoint card, you can always call the toll free customer service number on the station to get access to the station. You can also access a station by using the ChargePoint mobile app.

What if I lose my ChargePoint card or need new cards?

You can order additional cards for $4.95 a card. Just go to My Account, select Manage Cards, and then click Get Cards. If you lose your card, you should de-activate the lost card on the Manage Cards page by selecting the "x" (delete) button.

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How much does it cost to use a ChargePoint station?

ChargePoint stations are independently owned and operated by organizations such as major corporations, retailers, hotels, restaurants, parking services providers, cities, counties, and utilities. Each organization sets its own price to use their stations. You can see the price to use a specific station on our mobile app by viewing the indicated rates on the station details page, or click a charge spot on our online map and view pricing in the station details pop up. The price also scrolls across the charging station's display

How do I pay for charging?

ChargePoint operates on a credit system. The first time you use a ChargePoint station with a fee, you'll need to enter payment information. We'll charge you $10, keep that as a balance on your account and deduct your charging costs from it. Every time your balance goes below $5 we'll add another $10 using the payment method on file. (If you charge your EV a lot, we'll bring your balance up to your average monthly charging total instead of $10.)

If you only use free stations, we'll never charge your card. If you cancel your account, we'll refund the remainder of your balance. To update or remove your payment information anytime, go to Financial Information (web) or My Profile (mobile) under My Account.

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What are the Community Guidelines?

ChargePoint allows users to contribute tips which other users depend on to find a place to charge. Here are some rules you should follow that will help you enjoy the community features of ChargePoint.

• There's no need for inappropriate content: threats, harassment, lewdness and hate speech.
• Please make sure your tips are relevant and accurate.
• Do not spam! People don't like spam so please don't do it.
• Respect copyright. If you're not submitting information that you created yourself or that you haven't obtained the rights to use, don't submit it.

ChargePoint reserves the right to suspend Driver Tip privileges at any time if Community Guidelines are not followed.

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What kind of notifications can I sign up for?

You can sign up to receive notifications via text message and/or email. You can sign up to be notified immediately when any of these conditions occur:

• When your car is fully charged
• When your car is no longer charging due to an interruption
• When the power to your car is reduced
• Station closing and reservation reminders

I just got an alert that says "Your vehicle is drawing very little power and may be fully charged". What does it mean?

If you sign up to receive notifications for "When your car is fully charged", it will be sent whenever your vehicle begins to draw very little power for at least 15 minutes. While this often indicates your vehicle is fully charged, the J1772 connector does not provide a means for the vehicle to inform the charging station when it is fully charged. In addition, not all vehicles behave the same way when they become fully charged. Some draw a very low "maintenance" charge (in the order of a few watts), others cease charging altogether, and others go so far as to send a "vehicle disconnected" signal to the charging station (which will trigger a "Plug Out" notification). Further complicating matters is that the vehicle may draw very little (or no) power for other reasons, for example, the battery may be overheating while charging or the vehicle may be set for "delayed charging" and is waiting until evening when the electricity rates are cheaper.

How are my greenhouse gas (GHG) savings computed?

To estimate the GHG emissions you've avoided by driving electric, we estimate how far you've driven based on the energy provided to your electric vehicle (EV), calculate the emissions caused by generating that electricity, and compare this with the emissions that would be generated by a gas-powered vehicle traveling the same distance. We use the following data:

• Driving an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle emits an average of 8.8 kg CO₂ per gallon (19.4 lbs CO₂ per gallon) [1].
• An EV has an average efficiency of 3.0 mi/kWh, based on data for several types of EVs.
• The United States passenger car average fuel efficiency for ICE vehicles is 23.9 mi/gal [3].
• The average emissions from generating electricity in the United States is 0.9472 lbs CO₂/kWh [4].
• CO₂ is 95% of GHG emissions [5]

We use these numbers to estimate (19.4 × 3.0 / 23.9 – 0.9472) ÷ 95% = 1.5663 lbs CO₂/kWh, or 0.71 kg CO₂/kWh of GHG savings for the United States. We multiply this number by the amount of energy you've used to charge to get your GHG savings estimate.

How are my gasoline savings computed?

We use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates in a formula that derives the gasoline savings from how much you've charged your EV, which is a measure of how many miles you've driven on electricity instead of gasoline. Here are the estimates we use in our calculation:

• The United States passenger car average fuel efficiency for ICE vehicles is 23.9 mi/gal [1].
• An electric vehicle has an average efficiency of 3.0 mi/kWh. [Note: This is our estimate based on data for several types of electric vehicles.]

Combining these numbers, we get 3.0 / 23.9 = 0.1255 gallons/kWh of Gasoline Savings.

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How do I find a ChargePoint charging station?

You can use the ChargePoint mobile app, a variety of in-car navigation systems, or you can find stations on your dashboard map.

What do the colors mean on the map of charging stations?

Many stations have more than one connector. If a connector is available, the station is shown as green. If the station is fully occupied, it is shown as blue. If the station status is temporarily unavailable, it is shown as gray. If the station is not on our network and we don't have access to its status, it is shown as grey.

What are the circles on the map for?

When there are a lot of charging spots in an area we present their status as a Charging Status Indicator. The count in the circle indicates the number of charging spots and the green ring indicates the percentage of charging spots known to be available.

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I am ready to charge at a station; how do I start a session?

The easiest way to access a ChargePoint station is with a ChargePoint card. You simply hold your ChargePoint card over the smart card symbol below. The station checks that you are authorized to use the station. Once authorized, the holster unlocks so you can plug the connector into your car. You can also start a session using the ChargePoint mobile app or by calling the customer service number on the station.

How do I end a charging session?

When you get back to your car, just tap your ChargePoint card on the smart card reader symbol on the station below. The message on the display will instruct you to unplug the connector from your car, and put it back in the holster.

What is a port?

Each car connects to a charging station using a port on the charging station. If a station is listed as having two ports, it allows two cars to plug in.

What are the different port types: Level 1, Level 2 and DC Fast?

• provides a standard household receptacle into which you can plug the travel cord that came with your EV. Plugging into Level 1 for 10 hours will add 40 miles of range.
• provides a J1772 plug on an attached cable and are compatible with most EVs. Depending on your vehicle it will take 3-5 hours to add 40 miles of range.
• chargers provide direct current at very high power to charge vehicles quickly (40 miles of range in 15-30 minutes). DC Fast charger plugs come in two types. Check the station details and your EV owner's manual to ensure the station is compatible with your EV.

When you click on a charging station on your dashboard map, information about each port is listed in the pop-up window.

Can I plug any standard 120V charging cord into a Level 1 charging outlet?

The newer stations are equipped with J1772 connectors on cables that are physically attached to the station. Some older stations are equipped with Level 1 charging outlets which are found behind a locked door on the station. The Level 1 outlets require you to plug in your own cord. You can use any standard, grounded cord with an opaque plug that is rated 15A. Outdoor-rated, bright orange charging cords with opaque connectors are recommended. Cords with clear plastic plugs (ones through which you can see the wires and contacts) are not supported. For safety reasons ungrounded plugs with only two contactors are also not supported. The charging station will only energize the outlet if it detects that a plug has been firmly seated into the outlet and that the door is closed and locked.

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How do I contact support?

Need help? Visit our support page.

Can I cancel my ChargePoint account?

You can cancel your ChargePoint account at any time by visiting our support page. Please provide your account number, name, phone number, and the email address on your account. Any remaining account balance will be refunded to the credit card in your account.

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