Charging notification and inquiry of an electric vehicle

A text message (SMS), phone call or e-mail is sent to a user of an electric vehicle, stating when the vehicle should be plugged in to charge the vehicle in order to reach an expected destination. The charging system comprises a battery charger 104 coupled to a motor controller 112 and a battery 108. A telematics controller 106 is coupled to the battery charger and motor controller. The controller tracks vehicle usage, battery state and transmits a state of charge message to a remotely-located server 120. It also determines a next travel start time, an existing charge level travel distance, and a next travel distance. It transmits an alert message to the server, the alert message notifying an electric vehicle operator to start charging the vehicle at a first calculated time of day. The alert is transmitted at a second calculated time of day determined by the difference between the next travel start time and, the quotient of the next travel distance minus the existing charge level distance, and the charge time for a number of miles the vehicle can be driven per unit of battery charging time.