
Over time we have collected the questions that matter most to EV Drivers. Learn about everything from how ChargePoint works to how we measure your energy usage and conservation.
Submit A QuestionChargePoint® 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.
Back To Top ^To activate your cards go to My Account and select Manage ChargePoint Cards. Make sure you have your ChargePoint cards on hand to enter their serial numbers and select save.
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 opt to be alerted when your car is fully charged, or if charging is interrupted. And you can opt 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.
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:
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.
You can order additional ChargePoint cards for $4.95 a card, just go to My Account, select Manage ChargePoint Cards, and then click Get ChargePoint Cards. If you lose your card, you should de-activate the lost card on the ChargePoint Cards page by selecting the "x" (delete) button.
Back To Top ^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
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. Back To Top ^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.
ChargePoint reserves the right to suspend Driver Tip privileges at any time if Community Guidelines are not followed.
Back To Top ^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:
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 (on 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.
Many of you have asked to be notified whenever your vehicle is drawing very low power for a significant period of time, since you will often know precisely why your vehicle is behaving in this manner. For example, receiving this notification may remind you to disable the 'delayed charging' feature when plugging your vehicle into a public charging station. We welcome your feedback on this feature. Please send any feedback to support@chargepoint.com
We use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates in a formula that derives the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions you've prevented, based on 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:
Combining these numbers, we get (19.4 × 3.0 / 23.9 – 1.55548) ÷ 95% = 0.9260 lbs/kWh = 0.42 kg/kWh of GHG Savings.
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:
Combining these numbers, we get 3.0 / 23.9 = 0.1255 gallons/kWh of Gasoline Savings.
Back To Top ^You can use the ChargePoint mobile app, a variety of in-car navigation systems, or you can find stations on your dashboard map.
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 gray.
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.
Back To Top ^A charging station can take reservations if the station owner chooses to set it up that way. When you click on a station on the dashboard map, if the station is reservable you will see a calendar icon in the station pop-up window that appears.
You must be logged into your account to reserve a station. If the station is reservable, simply click on Reserve Now in the station's pop-up window and then book the time that you would like to start and end your session.
Each organization sets its own price if any to charge at their stations. But there is no extra cost to reserve a station if that feature is available.
You will be charged for your reservation even if you do not use the station. Please be sure to cancel any reservations 24 hours prior to it starting to avoid being charged. In Reports, you can see all your upcoming reservations, and can cancel them there. You can also set up a notification to remind you 30 minutes before your reservation start time so you don't forget you've made a reservation.
Back To Top ^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.
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.
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.
When you click on a charging station on your dashboard map, information about each port is listed in the pop-up window.
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 that you plug in your own cord. You can use any standard, grounded cord with an opaque plug that is rated for 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.
Back To Top ^Our drivers receive 24/7 customer support by calling 1-888-758-4389 or emailing support@chargepoint.com.
You can cancel your ChargePoint account at any time. Just email your request to support@chargepoint.com with 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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