On the Road to a Better EV Charging Experience

For EV drivers, every detail counts. A charging station listed as “available” when it isn’t can quickly ruin a smooth trip. That’s why regular field checks are crucial to keep our data accurate and dependable.

“Reliable data is the foundation. Every piece of info displayed in the app can make all the difference, which is why we validate it directly on site,”

– Simon Ouellette , CEO of ChargeHub

Over two intensive days, our team drove over 500 km, visiting 22 charging sites across Quebec and Ontario, testing 10 different charging networks.

Day 1: 10 sites visited across western Montreal and Laval (62 km traveled)

Day 2: 12 sites visited from Montreal to Ottawa (442 km traveled)

On-site checks included the following:

• Number of ports and connector types

• Actual available power

• Real-time charger status (available or in use)

• Whether activation through the ChargeHub app worked as expected

“There’s no substitute for being on site. To truly understand the user experience, you need to replicate every step: locating the charger, checking availability, and activating through the app. That’s how we identify friction points and improve the experience,”

 - Sophie Morissette, Head of User Experience Research.

Meanwhile, another expert from our team monitored the situation remotely from the office, validating in real-time that the data in our system matched the field observations.

The results speak for themselves: over 90% of the tested charging stations displayed accurate data and reliable real-time status. The issues encountered were not about data or activation, but stemmed from hardware problems at the stations themselves. For example, a user plugs in and starts the session, but the connection suddenly drops due to a faulty charger.

In addition to the technical checks, we also updated several detailed charging station profiles directly on site, including repositioning markers, refining descriptions, and adding new, more representative photos.

“Providing the best user experience isn’t just about technology, it’s also about clarity on the ground. A clear photo, a precise description, a well-placed location marker: these are the details that make all the difference when looking for a charging station,” explains Sophie Morissette.

Thanks to the largest independent community of EV drivers in North America, we continually improve the charging experience.

Since the last round of photo updates, many sites have changed. That’s why ChargeHub keeps encouraging users to participate in its photo campaign. Every image submitted through the app directly enhances the experience for thousands of EV drivers. And that’s not all: an internal team reviews each photo received and applies a rigorous process to ensure quality and relevance. It’s a true collaborative effort where every contribution counts in building the best possible experience.

“We sometimes forget how much a simple photo can improve the user experience. When images are current, clear, and show the station from the right perspective, it becomes much easier to navigate on site,” says Sophie Morissette.

The impact is tangible: in 2024, over 10,000 photos were submitted by the ChargeHub community. A simple yet powerful action that truly helps EV drivers.

Thank you to everyone who contributes photos and helps make public charging more accessible!

We’re committed to data quality and reliability. Every quarter, we continue on-site verifications across various regions in Canada and the United States to ensure the information provided in our app accurately reflects reality.

“By combining results from lab tests, field verifications, data analysis, and community feedback, we build a comprehensive and accurate picture of what’s happening on the ground. This approach enables us to improve the charging experience continuously,” says Simon Ouellette

👉 Join our photo campaign by submitting recent pictures of charging locations you’ve visited. 

👉 Download the ChargeHub app to activate a charging station