Charging Station Utilization

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Prerequisites: Creating your application

Before implementing the Smartcar API for charging station discoverability, ensure you have:

• Created a Smartcar Account and registered your application to obtain your client_id and client_secret.
• Set up Smartcar Connect Flow to authenticate and authorize users.

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Smartcar API Endpoints for charging station discoverability

Use the following Smartcar API endpoints to help drivers locate nearby charging stations based on their vehicle’s current range and location.

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1. Determine EV Range

Once a vehicle is authorized via Smartcar’s Connect flow, you can use the vehicle’s access token to retrieve the current battery level and range through the GET /battery endpoint.

    GET /vehicles/{vehicle_id}/battery

{
    "percentRemaining": 0.3,
    "range": 40.5
}

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2. Retrieve Vehicle Location

To locate nearby charging stations based on the vehicle’s current location, use the GET /location endpoint.

    GET /vehicles/{vehicle_id}/location

{
    "latitude": 37.4292,
    "longitude": -122.1381
}

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3. Calculate Distance to Charging Stations

Once you have the vehicle’s location, compare it with nearby charging stations’ coordinates. Charging station locations can be sourced from a Charge Point Operator (CPO) or through third-party services such as Google’s Places API. Calculate the distance and estimated time to reach these stations using Google’s Distance Matrix API or a similar service.

• Sourcing Charging Station Data: While Smartcar provides vehicle location data, you’ll need to source station coordinates from a CPO database or third-party API like Google’s Places API.
• Distance Calculation: Use Google’s Distance Matrix API to compute the travel distance and time, factoring in real-time traffic conditions and travel modes. This process helps drivers locate the nearest available charging stations in real time, offering a smooth and integrated experience.

This process helps drivers locate the nearest available charging stations in real time, offering a smooth and integrated experience.

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4. Send Destination to Vehicle Navigation (Optional)

Once you’ve identified the nearest charging station, guide the driver to the location. Depending on the vehicle’s capabilities, there are two options for navigation:

1. Mobile Navigation Apps: For vehicles that don’t support in-dash navigation, dispatch the destination coordinates to a mobile app (e.g., Google Maps, Apple Maps). This ensures drivers can still navigate using their smartphone..
2. Send to in-dash navigation: For vehicles that support in-dash navigation, Smartcar allows you to send destination coordinates directly to the onboard system. This allows for seamless, in-vehicle routing. You can check which brands support this feature by visiting the Supported Brands section.

Use Send Destination for supported vehicles to send coordinates to the vehicle’s navigation.

    POST /vehicles/navigation/destination
    {
        "latitude": 37.4292,
        "longitude": -122.1381
    }

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FAQs