EVgo Vs Chargepoint | Which Is Better?
The battles between ways to charge your electric cars are powering up. Each year, more companies are intensifying this war with new charging stations for electric vehicles. It is the new race of giant corporations.
The twentieth century saw oil companies race to build as many service stations as possible to fuel the ever-increasing numbers of gas guzzlers on the road. In today’s world, a new battle has begun as companies race to install charging stations so drivers can plug their vehicles in instead of filling up with gas.
This new industrial landscape is just beginning. Thousands of charging stations are being added throughout the US and the rest of the world whether they are along interstate highways or at shopping malls. Drivers can simply park at a charger and plug the connector into their vehicle until its batteries are ready to go again.
Two market participants in this race are EVgo and ChargePoint. With the world shifting toward cleaning energy solutions, electric vehicles (EVs) are at the forefront of this development. EVgo and ChargePoint are a part of this revolution with the EV industry forecast to reach 233.9 million units by the year 2027.
As the industry is still relatively fresh, it is still unclear whether these companies, which are mostly startups, will make much money. However, each one is experimenting with different strategies such as charging drivers to power up by the minute or the kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Others are turning chargers into billboards by installing large screens into them. As with any business, it’s all about making money.
But, what about charging your vehicle? Which is better – EVgo or ChargePoint? Let’s dissect both charging companies to find out which one comes out on top in this global charge. I will be looking at both companies and comparing what they have to offer and how many charging points they have available in the country.
EVgo
“EVgo is here for EV drivers, business owners, policymakers, fleets, automakers, and the list goes on.” This is what you immediately find on the EVgo website. Bold, confident, and reassuring. But, is it true? Let’s find out.
Currently, in the US, more than 130 million people live within a 10-mile radius of an EVgo fast-charging station. EVgo is the nation’s largest public network of DC fast chargers. It is powered by 100% renewable energy and boasts over 800 reliable and convenient charging stations.
This is made all the more impressive when you consider that EVgo is just starting out in the EV charging game. Compared to other more established payers, such as ChargePoint, EVgo has made leaps and bounds in the industry. It is one of the first companies, outside of Tesla, to build a fast-charging network throughout the United States.
What I like about EVgo
The price
The price of charging your electric vehicle is probably the first thing you consider. Fortunately, EVgo has some excellent pricing plans to help get your car’s battery all juiced up and raring to go again.
They have a Pay As You Go option with session time limits of 60 minutes, 24 hours a day. The fast charging rate of this is exceptional.
Another option is to sign up for full membership. This allows you to save up to 10% off EVgo’s per-minute rate and is considered the best value for regular charging. This also has a session time limit of 60 minutes, 24/7.
All of EVgo’s plans include 24/7 customer support with no session, idle, or service fees and each charging session can be tracked using the EVgo app.
Number of charging stations
EVgo may be quite new to the game of charging stations but that doesn’t mean they have a small network. They currently have more than 800 fast-charging locations in 66 metropolitan markets. All in all, they are reported to have 3,576 stations and 13,903 chargers available.
Many of their chargers are fast chargers with DC chargers equipped. Plans to add an additional 2,700 new fast chargers over the next five years are in place so drivers can be charged in confidence in many regions of the US.
ChargePoint
“Hundreds of thousands of places to charge.” ChargePoint has been around a little longer than EVgo and has an established EV charging network. This network is, in fact, the world’s largest and most open EV charging network in the world.
The company has currently delivered over 92 million charges and there is no doubt that this number will continue to increase rapidly. ChargePoint also introduced the ChargePoint Home EVSE in 2015 that offered WiFi connectivity as well as smart charging features. This unit was not only powerful but aesthetically pleasing alongside your home.
This unit has built a solid reputation and has become one of the most reliable charging ports in the country. But, the new
Being able to charge any EV from the comfort of your home is one of the biggest selling points these units can have.
What I like about ChargePoint
Charging your EV from home has never been simpler. And, with an affordable price, it can be more accessible to more and more drivers. The price of a networked station currently sits at $499 to $749.
While this may sound like a lot of money, it allows you to charge seamlessly at home with fast charging every time. The monthly fee is $39.99 a month and, with the app, it can be easy to keep track of how your EV is charging.
Network of charging stations
Operating in 14 countries, ChargePoint adds an additional 2,000 charging locations a month on average to our streets. The company also has a range of stations available from home charging points to Express DC chargers all over the country for fast and powerful charging.
So Which Is Better?
Although EVgo has an impressive network of DC chargers, ChargePoint has a more reliable and longer history. However, both are widely used and loved by EV owners and will no doubt continue to be front runners in the race of EV chargers.
See also:
ChargePoint vs PlugShare
JuiceBox Vs ChargePoint
Chargepoint vs Blink – Which Is Better?
