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Even though the number of charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) is steadily increasing, it is still a nuisance to locate a station and pay for charging. However, in the near future, it may become significantly easier with Alexa-enabled EV charging.

Alexa-enabled EV charging services were revealed by Amazon at CES 2023. These services will allow electric vehicle (EV) drivers to identify a charging station using Alexa, along with paying for the charging at select stations, when these services become accessible to drivers in the United States later in 2023.

You will, however, require a vehicle that is integrated with Alexa or an attachment, such as one of the Echo Auto devices sold by Amazon.

The phrase “Alexa, find an electric vehicle charging station near me” will let drivers see a list of nearby locations on their vehicle screens. The list will include availability by plug type, as well as the amount of time and distance to arrive at each place. After that, drivers can choose a station and then ask Alexa to direct them there using navigation.

There are more than 150,000 public charging stations around the United States that are part of different networks that are included in Alexa’s database. However, if you select a station that is part of the EVgo network, you can also use Alexa to pay for the charging. It is necessary to have an EVgo account and a pre-set payment method for this to work, but everything can be handled through the Alexa app by using the voice command “Alexa, pay for my charge.”

When compared to filling up a gas tank, charging an electric vehicle is still a hassle. It’s not always easy to locate a charging station, and the touchscreen interfaces on those that do exist aren’t always as user-friendly as those on petrol stations. The success of Alexa-integration and similar solutions depends on their widespread adoption.

In contrast to the widespread availability of petrol stations, where any vehicle or app may fill up, EV charging services are still in their infancy and require a variety of proprietary hardware and software to function.

Also Read: BART Announces EV Charging Ports at Railway Stations

Join the EV Revolution

With future generations eagerly looking toward affordable and sustainable EV models, it is clear that the future is electric! If you’re a parking operator looking to upgrade your locations, offering EV charging as a value-added service is a great idea for future-proofing your business.

With GMP EV, you can offer value-added services like EV charging through a custom-branded parking app or web app! Here’s why you should choose GMP EV to transform your parking lot into a mobility hub:

• Discover charging stations easily using the app
• Go app-less with a QR-based solution
• Pay online just once for both parking and charging
• Manage your sessions on a centralized dashboard
• Get real-time reports on energy consumption
• OCPI-compliant solutions for greater flexibility

Get a demo today, or contact us at sales@getmyparking.com to know more!