Do you remember when we talked about electric cars? They are cars that run with electricity, instead of gas like our usual cars. Electric cars need to be charged, just like our toys need to be recharged when the battery runs low.
Now, think about your toys and imagine they are cars - you can't just plug them anywhere, right? You need a special place to plug in and charge the batteries. This is the same for electric cars - they need a special place to charge, called a charging station.
A charging station is like a parking lot for electric cars to charge their batteries. But, just like with regular driving, you need a place to stop and charge your car when you are traveling long distances. This is where electric vehicle (EV) charging networks come in.
EV charging networks are like a big map or a road trip planner for electric cars. They help you know where the charging stations are and plan which ones to go to. Just like we use Google Maps when we go on trips to see how to get from one place to the next, EV charging networks help drivers plan their charging stops so they can keep on going.
Some EV charging networks are owned by companies like Tesla and ChargePoint, and they have their own charging stations. Other EV charging networks are open to all kinds of electric cars and are owned by organizations that work to promote electric transportation choices.
So, when we talk about the electric vehicle charging network, we mean a lot of charging stations in different places and who owns them, all working together to help electric car drivers plan their trips and make sure they have enough power to get where they are going.