EV Charge Point Operators: Get on These Listing Sites
Drivers’ appetite for electric vehicles continues to grow. In fact, global EV sales reached an all-time high in the second quarter of 2024—and the International Energy Agency forecasts that almost 1 in 3 cars on Chinese roads will be electric by 2030, with the US and EU close behind, at a projected 1 in 5 cars.
Of course, more EVs on the roads means more demand for EV charging stations, which means consumer-oriented businesses face increasing temptation to add a charging station location. The UK government’s Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles even offers grants and incentives for businesses to do just that.
It’s one thing to add some charging points to your car park, but entirely another for drivers to find your location when looking for the next (urgent) opportunity to charge. Yes, you’ll need to follow the same local SEO guidelines as all other multi-location businesses when trying to entice users searching for “charging point near me.”
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Make Your EV Business Findable Online
When someone is low on battery, you want EV navigators and search engines to direct them straight to your location. And as more drivers rely on digital tools to find charging stations, you need to ensure your business shows up exactly when and where they’re searching.
Local landing pages and locators form an essential part of your toolset for improving online visibility and generating offline traffic to your EV charging station locations. Unlike other areas of your website geared more towards telling your story, they do one thing and one thing only: tell people and search engines where to find a business.
But also, local page signals influence 21% of local SEO ranking, which looks increasingly at fulfilling user intent. So as a charge point operator or a local marketer, you must include crucial information for search terms like “charging station near me”, “charging point near me”, “find EV charging station”, “find a place to charge”, and so on.
But it’s not just about having a website—it’s about making your locations easy to find across all the places drivers are looking .To ensure you’re fully findable, your business also needs to be listed in relevant online directories—especially the EV navigation apps drivers rely on most.
Why EV Navigators Matter for Charge Point Operators
When someone runs out of juice and needs to find a charging point quickly, you want all of EV navigators to tell users clearly: here is the site for you. And for an EV navigator to recommend your site to users, you need to link up with online directories, especially those EV navigation apps that drivers rely on most.
Take the example of EWE Go, one of Germany’s leading charging infrastructure operators, who partnered with Uberall to make EV stations easier to find. Uberall’s direct contact with platform operators empowered EWE Go to keep location data for charging stations current across all the relevant platforms, without individually contacting or managing those EV navigation tools.
So it's clear that EV businesses must be easily findable online through listings, but the question remains: which platforms are most relevant for EV drivers = EV businesses?
Does Listings Management Still Matter?
What Are The Most Important Platforms For EV Businesses?
Getting your EV charging station found online can meanmonitoring and managing an extensive list of separate directories. However, some lists of charging stations only bring up a single network’s locations, while others may display out of date information—both of which can frustrate users; and frustration decreases the likelihood of users visiting your site.
Below, we look at a few listings platforms that EV businesses should utilize as an essential part of their local SEO strategy, as well as the information those listings promise users, so you can optimize for user intent. But on top of these EV navigation-specific directories, you may want to consider setting aside additional time to cover more general local business directories, too.
ChargeFinder
ChargeFinder promises users “all relevant info in one place,” including:
which operator owns the station
number and type of outlets
relevant location information (including prices)
nearby facilities and other charging stations
Those who want to know more details or see pictures can click on the address to open a link to Google; which means it’s equally as important to have your Google Business Profile optimized when you list your business on ChargeFinder.
Chargemap
Chargemap aims to enhance the adoption of electric vehicles by delivering the best charging experience possible. So when users search for stations on their map, they see options including the site’s basic information: network, charging speed, number of charging points, and address.
However, they also have a community where users can add photos, leave reviews and recommendations for nearby facilities, or talk about the level of access; so this EV navigation platform can add value through user-generated content.
PlugShare
Like Chargempa, PlugShare also includes community features that allow users to leave their own observations about a charging station location. This EV navigation app, however, lets users search within specific parameters, including:
the kilowatt ranges of chargers and station count
facts on the ground for amenities at the location—including food, drink, restrooms, lodging, parks, groceries, Wi-Fi, hiking, camping, as well as free charging options
They can also search by the type of parking options, such as accessible parking or trailer-friendly lots.
Electromaps
Designed as a mobile-first app, Electromaps promises users to find a charging point that suits their needs, when they need it, from a list of more than 400,000 public charging points. This EV navigation platform also allows users to publish trips and reviews and add new charging point locations, functioning as a community-built and user-driven option.
ChargeHub
ChargeHub boasts more than 1 million users and a list of more than 200,000 EV charging stations. Their map offers multiple filters, such as connector types, opening hours, availability, and free charging options, while a “coming soon” option allows you to list your EV charging platform while still under construction.
EVGo
EVGo offers drivers real-time charger availability, allows them to monitor their charging session, and earn rewards by charging through their network. Listings include address, opening hours, and charging point types, and they also show fast-charging locations across the US.
Don’t Forget the Map Apps!
Updating your information on Google will enable users to find your charging point through Google Maps while adding to your visibility metrics for Google Business Profiles. Their latest updates to Maps guides customers to navigate directly towards specific charging locations, with selections based on data from user reviews.
However, Apple Maps also deserves significant attention for when users request driving directions to their destination, Maps can track their vehicle’s charge, analyze the route, and identify appropriate charging stations along the way—but only when using electric vehicle routing in selected areas.
How to Optimize Charging Stations on Google Maps
Optimizing Your Listings and Measuring Results
For these directories and navigation apps to be able to find your charging station location, you’ll need to optimize your online presence—which means ticking all of the local SEO boxes.
NAP Data
Before anything else, make sure directories have the correct NAP data for your charging points; your business name, address, and phone number require constant monitoring, as well as updated opening hours.
Also, add features to mirror the information on EV navigation platforms, such as details on nearby facilities and attractions, as well as your charging point’s own on-site amenities, like what customers can do while they wait for their EV to charge. Most of all, ensure you clarify which vehicles are compatible with your charge points; for one, Tesla requires different charging setups from other EVs.
Content SEO
Add engaging and relevant content all across your site, keeping the target keyword and location at the top of your mind, and users’. Images are always helpful, but make sure each location’s site showcases a unique image, and that you fill in the alt text to describe images for users who utilize screen readers.
Technical SEO
From a technical perspective, make sure you also include the target keyword and location in your land page’s URL, title tag, and meta description. And of course, you should embed a map on your own landing page, too.
Reviews & Social Media
Your pages should also include reviews and any relevant social media profiles, although images and those details drivers search for should receive top billing. Users want reliability and safety when looking for a place to charge.
If you struggle with your data management or just don’t know where to get started with your listings, get in touch and request your free demo. With our all-in-one platform, you can increase your EV charging platform’s visibility by more than 55% and ignite drivers’ confidence with reliable real-time data.
Make Your Charging Station Visible and ‘Visitable’