Writing Helpful Charging Station Reviews

Why Write Reviews?

Your charging station reviews help other EV drivers:

Find reliable stations based on real experiences
Avoid problems you encountered
Plan their trips with confidence
Discover hidden gems and well-maintained stations

Reviews make the EV charging community better for everyone.

How to Leave a Review

Step 1: Visit the Station Page

Find the station at /locations
Click the station card to view details
Scroll to the Reviews section
Click "Write a Review" button

Sign-in required: You must be signed in to leave reviews.

Step 2: Rate 6 Categories

Rate each category from 1-5 stars:

1. Cleanliness

Is the area clean and well-maintained?
Are the chargers free of damage or graffiti?
Is trash properly managed?

2. Accessibility

Is the station easy to find?
Are charging spots clearly marked?
Is there enough space for larger vehicles?

3. Reliability

Did the charger work as expected?
Was the advertised power output accurate?
Were all ports operational?

4. Value

Is pricing fair for the area and speed?
Are there hidden fees?
Do membership discounts apply?

5. Location

Is the location convenient?
Are amenities nearby (food, restrooms, etc.)?
Is it safe and well-lit?

6. Ease of Use

Was the payment process smooth?
Is the app/network easy to use?
Are instructions clear?

Tip: Be honest and specific. These ratings help others decide if this station is right for them.

Step 3: Write Your Review

What to include:

When you visited (helps identify recent changes)
What worked well
What didn't work or could improve
Tips for other drivers

Length: 50-500 words is ideal.

Writing Helpful Reviews

Good Review Example

5 stars | Visited March 2025

"Great charging stop on the way to Tahoe! All 4 CCS ports were working. Charged my Mach-E at 150 kW (station advertises 150-350 kW). Pricing was $0.43/kWh through the Electrify America app.

The station is in the back corner of the Target parking lot - look for the green awnings. There's a Starbucks 50 feet away, perfect for a 25-minute charge. Restrooms inside Target.

Tip: Spots can fill up on Friday afternoons (3-6 PM) during ski season. Arrived at 2 PM on Saturday and had no wait."

Why this is helpful:

✓ Specific details (power output, pricing, location)
✓ Helpful context (time of day, season)
✓ Actionable tips (where to find it, when to avoid crowds)
✓ Mentions nearby amenities

Poor Review Example

2 stars

"Didn't work. Terrible. Don't recommend."

Why this is unhelpful:

✗ No details about what didn't work
✗ No context (when visited, what happened)
✗ No useful information for other drivers
✗ Doesn't help the owner fix the problem

What to Include in Your Review

For Positive Experiences

Mention:

Charging speed (actual kW, not just advertised)
Payment method used
Nearby amenities you appreciated
Easy-to-find location or good signage
Owner responsiveness (if applicable)

Example: "Charged at 48 kW (station max is 50 kW, so right on target). Paid via ChargePoint app - no issues. Whole Foods and restrooms right there. Owner replied to my question about hours within 2 hours!"

For Negative Experiences

Be constructive:

Describe the problem clearly
Mention what you tried to fix it
Note if you contacted support
Suggest what would improve the situation

Example: "Port 2 wouldn't start charging - error code E04 on screen. Tried Port 1 instead, which worked fine. Reported the issue via the EVgo app. Would be 5 stars if all ports were working."

Avoid:

Personal attacks on owners
Profanity or offensive language
Issues unrelated to the charging station
Blaming the owner for network problems

For First-Time Experiences

Help other newbies:

Explain the payment process step-by-step
Mention any confusing parts
Share tips you wish you'd known

Example: "First time using Electrify America. Download the app BEFORE you arrive - saved me 10 minutes. Tap 'Start Charging' in the app, then plug in. The charger won't start until you plug in (I learned this the hard way!)."

Tips for Great Reviews

1. Be Specific

Bad: "Good location"
Good: "Located behind Safeway, near the back entrance. Look for the blue ChargePoint signs."

2. Include Numbers

Bad: "Fast charging"
Good: "Charged at 180 kW, added 70% in 22 minutes"

3. Mention Timing

Bad: "Sometimes busy"
Good: "Usually 1-2 cars waiting on weekday mornings (7-9 AM)"

4. Share Workarounds

Bad: "Payment didn't work"
Good: "Tap-to-pay reader wasn't working, but the ChargePoint app worked fine as backup"

5. Update if Things Change

If an owner responds and fixes an issue, you can update your review
Mention in your edit: "Update: Owner fixed Port 3, now working great!"

Review Guidelines

Allowed:

Honest experiences and opinions
Constructive criticism
Photos of the station, parking, or signage
Tips for other drivers

Not Allowed:

Fake or fraudulent reviews
Reviews for stations you haven't visited
Spam or promotional content
Personal attacks or harassment
Profanity or offensive language
Unrelated complaints (traffic, weather, etc.)

Violations may result in review removal or account suspension.

Photos in Reviews

You can attach up to 3 photos per review.

Helpful photo ideas:

Station location in parking lot
Charger close-up showing connector types
Signage or wayfinding
Nearby amenities
Problems you encountered (broken equipment)

Photo guidelines:

Clear, well-lit images
Relevant to the station
No license plates or people's faces
No inappropriate content

After Posting Your Review

What happens next:

Review goes live immediately - Visible to all users
Owner may respond - Some owners reply to reviews (especially negative ones)
Other users can vote "Helpful" - Popular reviews rank higher
You can edit or delete - Update your review anytime from your dashboard

Check back for owner responses:

Owners may ask questions or provide updates
You can reply to owner responses
This helps resolve issues and improve stations

Editing or Deleting Reviews

To edit a review:

Dashboard → Reviews
Find your review
Click "Edit"
Make changes and save

To delete a review:

Dashboard → Reviews
Find your review
Click "Delete"
Confirm deletion (this cannot be undone)

Responding to Owner Replies

If an owner responds:

You'll get an email notification
View their response on the station page
You can reply to their comment
This creates a public conversation thread

Best practices:

Acknowledge if they fixed the issue
Update your rating if appropriate
Thank them for their response
Keep replies professional

Common Questions

Can I review a station I didn't charge at?

No. Only review stations you've personally used for charging. Fake reviews harm the community.

Can I review my own charging station?

No. Reviews should be from customers only. Use the owner dashboard to add photos and information instead.

Can owners delete bad reviews?

No. Only the original reviewer or SpotCharge moderators can remove reviews. Owners can respond to reviews publicly.

How do I report an inappropriate review?

Click "Report Review" on the review you want to report. Select a reason (spam, offensive, fake, etc.). Our team will investigate within 2 business days.

Can I be anonymous?

Reviews show your first name and last initial (e.g., "John D."). You cannot post completely anonymously, but your full name and email are never shown.

Need Help?

Questions about writing or managing reviews?

Contact Support or check our Help Center