Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions people ask most about Charge & Explore.

What is Charge & Explore?

It is a web app that ranks the electric-vehicle charging stops you can reach by the quality of the break you can take there: how far off route the stop is, the charger itself, restrooms, walking access, and things to do that fit inside your charging time. How it works explains the scoring in detail.

Is it made by Tesla?

No. Charge & Explore is an independent product. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tesla, Inc.

Can I try it without an account?

Yes. Choose Explore in Demo Mode on the home page. Demo Mode loads a sample vehicle with sample telemetry, a sample route and charging stations, so you can see every feature without signing in or connecting a car.

How do I sign in?

You can sign in with Google. Sign in with Apple and email sign-in links appear when they are enabled on the server. Signing in lets the app remember your vehicle and preferences.

What does connecting my car give the app access to?

Connecting is optional. If you connect a Tesla, you approve access through Tesla's own sign-in page; the app requests permission to read vehicle data and the vehicle's location, plus a refresh permission so it can stay connected without asking you again each time. If you connect another make through Smartcar, the app requests read-only access to vehicle information, battery level and charging status. It does not request permission to control the car. You can disconnect at any time, which revokes access and deletes the vehicle data and tokens stored for you. Details are in the privacy policy.

How accurate are the charging times?

They are estimates, always shown as a range. The model accounts for the way charging slows as the battery fills, the lower of your vehicle's and the station's maximum power, conversion losses and a couple of minutes to plug in. It is a general model rather than a manufacturer specification, and real sessions vary with temperature and battery condition. Your car's display is the final word during a session.

Does it show whether a charger is free right now?

Only when live availability comes from an authorized, up-to-date feed. Otherwise the app does not claim to know, and a listed charger may be busy or out of service. Keep enough range to reach a second option.

Where do the charger and place listings come from?

Charger locations come from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuel Stations data, published through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's developer API, covering the United States and Canada. Nearby places come from OpenStreetMap and, where enabled, Google Places.

Why does a place I know not appear for a stop?

Places are looked up within about 800 metres of the charger from OpenStreetMap and, where enabled, Google Places, so anything further away, or missing from those maps, will not show. In the full Stop Score model shown in the demo, a place is also left out when the walk there and back plus a short visit would not fit inside the short end of the charging estimate with a safety buffer.

Will it ever send me to a charger I cannot reach?

It tries hard not to. Chargers outside a conservative range estimate, with a 30 percent safety margin, are excluded from the best-stop pick. Range estimates are still approximations, so always check your car's own range display.

Why is there no safety score?

Scores built from crime data tend to carry bias and can give false reassurance. The app shows observable signals and a confidence label instead. See How it works.

How do I get help or delete my data?

Visit the support page, which has contact details and instructions for deleting your data.