Hitting the road in an electric vehicle (EV) is fun but unless you’re a seasoned app pro, range anxiety can rear its ugly head and make things a little stressful. But this needn’t be the case as there are numerous downloadable apps ready to keep drivers’ minds on the road ahead.
From locating charging points to optimising efficiency, the following 7 digital co-pilots will transform any EV experience into plain…sailing/driving!
1. Octopus Electroverse
Features: Brought to you by the UK’s favourite energy supplier–Octopus–the Electroverse app offers no-nonsense support to EV drivers across the UK and Europe. By signing up to the EV app, for free, users gain access to more than 651,000 public chargers and can plan trips with the intelligent route planner that factors in specific EV models’ ranges and efficiencies.
The app lets drivers know which are the most cost-effective charging points along their route while also accessing exclusive member discounts and managing their home charging schedule. You can also use the app to conveniently pay for charging at public stations.
Interface: As you’d expect from Octopus, the app is colourful, fun, and designed to amuse, all while providing a vital service. It is available for Android, iOS and web users and works with in-car display systems.
Plans available: Electroverse is free for everybody to join and allows you to pay for charging with a linked payment card. Octopus Energy customers can also choose to pay using their electricity accounts, with those on certain tariffs able to unlock extra discounts.
2. Co Charger
Features: And now for something a little different. Longer journeys are easier when you can start with a full battery - but what if you can’t have a home charger? While there are several route planning and station location app offerings available, Co Charger‘s Community Charging offering is the UK’s second-biggest EV charging network - and it’s all about neighbours helping neighbours.
The platform allows people to rent out their home charging stations to neighbours who are unable to have their own fitted, thereby helping them make the switch to an EV, but with enhanced flexibility. This will help those without parking spaces and driveways to consider sustainable travel options that previously, may have felt out of reach. Installing a charger brings a modest income stream for hosts.
The company states that its mission is to reduce climate change and to enable everyone to drive an EV instead of a conventional petrol or diesel car. Co Charger was founded on the principle of making sustainability a reliable and affordable reality for everyone, through the power of community. That sounds familiar to us at Ripple!
Learn more about Co-Charger here.
Interface: Clean and easy to navigate, the app makes it simple to be a host (to rent out a home charger) or to schedule a charging session at someone’s home. Available for both iOS and Android users, the app is suitable for everyone.
Plans available: It is free to sign up and use Co Charger, underscoring the community and wider sustainability goals at play.
3. PlugShare
Features: PlugShare claims to be the “most accurate and complete” public charging map app globally, allowing EV drivers on every continent to motor with confidence. It is also a community hub for like-minded car owners, who can leave reviews and photos of charging points while also sharing tips for efficiency on the road. Users can direct message each other, and notifications can alert drivers when a new charging station has been completed close to them. The built-in route planner allows for worry-free road trips of any length and charging sessions can be monitored within the app if drivers want to leave their vehicle. Payment is also possible directly through the app.
Interface: With so many features to trawl through, PlugShare has kept its interface clean, unfussy, and plain. A drop-down navigation menu offers quick access to the main features needed and touchscreen maps ensure accuracy for Android, iOS, and web users. It also connects to in-car systems for hands-free support.
Plans available: Free to all users but there is a business plan option for commercial users.
4. Zapmap
Features: A favourite in the UK and Ireland, Zapmap allows drivers to search for public charging points, plan routes to accommodate easy top-ups and pay for charges, all within the EV app. Users can also share updates about faulty or out-of-service chargers (and other pertinent issues) in real-time. For general chat, there is a ‘café’ function that connects EV drivers. Zapmap offers access on your mobile phone, tablet, web browser, and even directly in your car (for premium users) to help you find charging stations. Rollout across Europe is in progress, so bear this in mind when planning a trip abroad.
Interface: Simple to understand and use, Zapmap relies on recognisable design tropes, including a star system for charging points and interactive maps. There are no gimmicks, just good old-fashioned information.
Plans available: There are free and premium options to choose from. The paid-for subscription costs £29.99 annually or £2.99 monthly. Premium users benefit from zero ads, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto synchronisation, plus unlimited saved routes, unlimited EVs on account, what3words integration and fast identification of new charging points.
6. WattsUp
Features: WattsUp has been designed to track an EV’s movements and offer real-time updates on the nearest chargers that will work with that model, from a range of operators. It also alerts users when chargers are out of action, well ahead of time, to allow for route adjustment, and displays everything in miles, not minutes. Smart filters allow users to avoid being shown charging stations that are incompatible with their cars and new station announcements are made as soon as they are switched on. WattsUp is careful to include all rapid chargers on its maps and claims to be new EV-driver friendly.
Interface: Similar to Google Maps in terms of moving imagery as journey progress is made but with the added benefit of a ‘latest news’ screen that is displayed when the app is opened. Apple and Android users can download the app for us on phones but so far, only Apple Car Play is supported for in-car entertainment systems.
Plans available: One free plan, with no in-app purchases.
7. Tesla (for Tesla owners)
Features: Unapologetically offered only to Tesla drivers (though non-Tesla EVs can charge at certain Tesla stations), the Tesla app is something of an on-phone or in-car command centre. Drivers can monitor their car’s vitals remotely, pre-condition the cabin for optimal comfort, and locate Tesla Supercharger stations as part of a route-planning exercise. The latter feature automatically estimates charging costs as well. Seamless integration with the car’s onboard entertainment console makes the app an easy extension of the Tesla driving experience and is free for owners.
Interface: Understated, serious, and very on-brand.
Plans available: None. The app is free and suitable for Tesla owners only.
While it’s vital to know how and where you can charge your EV, for cost-efficiency, nothing beats a home top-up. Here, you can control not only when you charge (hopefully taking advantage of lower rate periods), but you can also tap into special EV tariffs if offered by your energy supplier.
EV-driving Ripple members can maximise their savings and climate action in one go, by offsetting their charging needs with their own source of low-cost, green energy. By owning part of a wind farm or solar park, our members know that they are charging their conscious transport in the greenest way possible, while still seeing bill savings each month.
To find out more about how Ripple’s green energy ownership model could power your EV for less, visit us here.
