As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates across the U.S., so does the demand for connected EV charging infrastructure. Whether you’re deploying public fast-charging stations, residential chargers, or fleet-oriented solutions, cellular connectivity plays a critical role in enabling billing, authentication, firmware updates, and remote diagnostics.

At Simplex Wireless, we provide tailored IoT SIM card solutions for EV charging station manufacturers, operators, and installers—backed by U.S.-based fulfillment and support from our headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the key considerations for selecting the right cellular data plan for EV chargers—and how Simplex Wireless can help you stay connected with no hidden fees and coast-to-coast coverage.

1. Define Your Regional Coverage Requirements

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is where your EV chargers will be deployed—and what cellular networks are required to support them.

• U.S.-only deployments: Choose a SIM with access to all major U.S. networks (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon) to ensure reliable signal in rural, urban, and highway locations. Simplex Wireless offers multi-network roaming SIMs that automatically connect to the strongest signal in any location.
• U.S. and Canada deployments: Choose a plan that includes seamless roaming across both countries with no added complexity. Simplex SIMs offer pre-configured cross-border support at domestic rates.
• Global deployments: If you’re expanding into Europe or beyond, Simplex offers global eSIM profiles with access to 550+ networks across 180 countries. You can learn more on our Global Coverage page.

2. Understand Your EV Charger’s Data Usage

EV chargers typically use cellular connectivity to support:

• Start/stop charging sessions and remote control
• Payment processing and authentication
• Diagnostics and remote monitoring
• Firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates

We generally see average monthly usage of around 100MB per SIM, with spikes up to 1GB when firmware updates are pushed. Understanding this usage pattern is critical when selecting a pricing plan that won’t overcharge you or leave you capped.

3. Choose the Right Pricing Model: Pooled vs. Pay-As-You-Go

At Simplex Wireless, we offer flexible pricing models that align with the real-world needs of EV charger networks:

• Pooled Plans: Each SIM adds a certain amount of data (e.g., 250MB or 1GB) to a shared data pool. This model is great for fleets where some chargers use more data than others. Learn more on our Pricing page.
• Pay-As-You-Go Plans: You pay only for the actual data usage per SIM. Ideal for deployments where data usage is predictable and relatively low.

Want to test both models? You can request a trial SIM and see which pricing approach fits your usage.

4. Ensure You Have Nationwide Coverage

EV chargers are often placed in parking garages, rest stops, and along highways—areas where signal strength can vary. That’s why it’s important to select a SIM card that supports all three major U.S. carriers: AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

Simplex SIMs are multi-network enabled, giving you access to the strongest signal in any given location. This ensures high availability and helps reduce failed charging sessions due to poor connectivity.

You can review supported networks and countries on our coverage map.

5. Why Simplex Wireless Is the Right Fit for EV Charging Projects

• U.S.-based operations: Sales, support, and fulfillment are handled directly from Atlanta, GA, ensuring responsive customer service in your time zone.
• No hidden fees: Unlike other providers, we don’t charge for setup, SIM activation, or platform access. See our No Hidden Fees breakdown.
• Flexible data plans: Mix and match pooled and pay-as-you-go plans across your deployment.
• Multi-network resilience: Avoid connectivity downtime with automatic carrier switching across AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
• API-enabled SIM management: Automate SIM provisioning, suspension, and alerts via our intuitive IoT SIM management platform.

Final Thoughts

Cellular connectivity is the backbone of modern EV charging networks. The wrong SIM choice can lead to spotty coverage, surprise fees, or excessive data waste. With Simplex Wireless, you get a transparent, reliable, and scalable solution designed specifically for connected devices like EV chargers.

Ready to power up your EV charging deployment? Talk to our team or order a trial SIM today.

We’ll help you choose the right network, the right plan, and the right coverage—without any surprises.

This article was written by Jan Lattunen, CCO Simplex Wireless

About the Author: Jan Lattunen manages Sales and Marketing for Simplex Wireless. Jan has 20 years’ experience in working with SIM card technology and was involved in launching the eSIM in North America with major carriers and OEMs. His expertise in telecommunications is around SIM cards. On a personal note, Jan is a family man and avid cyclist with advocacy for safety in the roads. You can connect with Jan on https://linkedin.com/in/JanLattunen