Electric vehicle charging apps
30Nov, 22 November 30, 2022

The biggest problem you may run into when purchasing an electric car is that you won’t know how to charge it or where to find a charging station. There are several applications available that can assist you in this case, such as Chargify and Electrify America, but how do you know which is the best?

Examining the many electric cars charging apps available in the USA and choosing the top ones will be the focus of this article.

Best Charging Apps for Electric Vehicles

Let us explore the most trending charging apps available in the USA.

1. EVgo

It is one of the charging applications that is most in demand and is frequently utilized in American cities. It is mostly utilized because of the appealing UI design motif, which makes it simple to look at and operate. You are given the choice to select your electric car after signing up, and the filters pertaining to the charging configuration of the selected vehicle are then automatically adjusted. Depending on where you live, there might not be many EVgo chargers close to your house.

This is more of a drawback of the network as a whole than the application, but it’s still something to take into account. However, EVgo does offer a standout feature, and that is the ability to make reservations directly from the app. To guarantee that a charger is accessible, EVgo members may book one at their location up to 20 minutes in advance. Only a few charging platforms provide this option, and booking one costs $3 in advance.

Although there are many positive aspects of the app, there are a few functions that, if included, would represent a significant advancement for EVgo. Though EVgo claims to have “more than 850 accessible and dependable fast-charging stations in the US,” this number is insufficient to provide reliable charging infrastructure for all.

2. Electrify America

Electrify America set a high priority on supplying sustainable energy and making it possible for speedy charging in order to meet user needs. It has several features that make it dependable, like filters, simple sign-up, visuals, animation, etc.

It assists in determining whether vehicles have appropriate plugs and immediately recognizes the capabilities an EV may need to charge. The power of the chargers may be simply modified to 350 kW. Your Electrify HomeStation may be linked to a section of the app. Along with the number of chargers accessible and their costs per kWh or minute, the built-in map also displays this information. If you want to understand more about the latest technological breakthroughs in EV charging networks, this linked blog post is a must-read. It will walk you through some of the most popular features on the market today and how they can help you in the future.

3. Chargeway

The primary usage of this app is for travel planning. It won’t be difficult for you to locate the closest charging stations with the help of Chargeway. The Trip Planner is the best feature of the app, allowing you to enter your exact location, departure point, and the battery level of your car. However, despite showing the same number of EVs, it displays fewer charging points than other applications. This may be a sign that Chargeway is being cautious and only shows chargers compatible with your particular EV.

4. Plugshare

It is an application designed exclusively for iOS users. Locating a wide variety of vehicle chargers from numerous networks, including well-known brands like Electrify America, Tesla Superchargers, ChargePoint, and many others, is made easier by this tool.

To see which chargers are accessible along your way to the office, a neighbor’s place, or your planned road trip, you may add numerous journeys to your profile on PlugShare. Prospective EV owners can use this tool to determine whether they can afford to charge an all-electric car on their commute.

5. ChargeHub

You can find all the main EV charging networks in your region using ChargeHub, which offers an excellent user experience. The Map, Travels, Communities, and Profile tabs are located at the bottom of the screen when you first launch the app, which introduces you to a digital map of all the nearby chargers. The simple user interface makes it easy for new users to utilize the program.

6. Volta

One of the biggest free EV charging networks in the United States is this one. By using the Volta app, you can discover the charging outlets at malls, shopping centers, supermarkets, and other establishments and find out if they are available. The app informs you of the sorts of EV charging connectors and charger levels it supports as well as how long you may charge for no cost.

Most of the time, you are permitted to charge for free for close to two hours, but you can also choose to pay for more time. The app also allows you to report any concerns and offers instructions to the charger. Most Volta stations operate from six in the morning to midnight, however, hours may vary according to the region.

7. Open Charge Map

Locating EV charging stations throughout the world is made possible by the usage of this app. Users may look for charging stations, submit them, and enter reviews, pictures, and other details about charging points with the help of this open-source initiative. You can also get driving instructions to the charging station of your choice, check for the connection type and recharging speed, and plan your journey depending on the chargers that are accessible.

8. EV Connect

By allowing energy to be used as fuel for transportation, EV Connect creates a better planet. Drivers may quickly locate, connect, and discreetly pay for EV charging stations using the EV Connect App. It employs location-based technologies. Depending on geography, terminal ID, frequency, transmitted power, and convenience, drivers may search for and find electric car charging stations.

9. EV Hotel

With the help of this app, you can see which charging stations are located near hotels and how far they are from those hotels in terms of walking distance.

Choosing from 170+ worldwide brands, you could relax and charge while earning more hotel reward points. When utilizing standard plug adaptors, it may reach 80% extra EV charging locations.

10. EV Match

This software allows you to create a charging schedule specifying an opening and closing time. If the price of power drops overnight, this is useful.

The best part about this app? It allows users to share their charging stations to earn extra money, all without any signup feeds.

Different Types of Charging Apps

Different types of EV charging apps exist. It is classified into many sorts based on its characteristics, functioning, and intended use.

Public Electric Vehicle Charging Apps

There are several public charging applications available in the store for download and usage in both free and paid versions. Maps and travel instructions are included in this software. These services are often less dependable options for route planning since they frequently overlook crucial information while charging while traveling, such as the availability and state of charging stations.

Home Electric Vehicle Charging Apps

Home charging applications, which are normally offered by the maker of the charging station, let you manage a charging point in a private environment. These applications provide you with access to information about the charging process, let you monitor the progress of a charging session, informs about the longevity of EV charge time, lets you control the amount of electricity your charger uses, and let you learn more about energy demand.

Dual Electric Vehicle Charging Apps

A charging app may occasionally be utilized to handle both home and public charging, providing drivers with the simplicity of a single feature for all of their EV charging. This is frequently the case with home charging applications that also include a map of accessible public charging stations, enabling users to discover and control chargers while on the move.

Charging Apps & Features

The market is flooded with software firms and developers selling white-labeled products. However, the majority of the time, these applications are created utilizing generic themes and do not accurately reflect the true worth and distinctiveness of your goods.

Some of the important factors one should take into account while creating an EV charging app are stated in the section below:

Technological Level

The sophisticated processes used by the EV charging app involve the management of EVSE software and hardware components. For instance, setting up a charger, choosing a port style, mobile phone user identification, alert generating, and integrating various connection choices and interfaces are just a few examples. When building an intuitive app and considering the effects of each parameter, it is critical to have this understanding.

Authentic Statistics

Apps for EV charging must function flawlessly at all times and provide real-time information, such as energy prices, location availability, and the condition of the battery’s charge. As they create and test their apps, app developers must take into account cellular networking and bandwidth restrictions.

Focus Audience

Regardless of customer nationality, age, or region, anybody who owns an electric vehicle (EV) qualifies as the app’s particular recipient. Along with being useful, it should be simple to use, have a logical UI/UX, accommodate minority dialects, and give ease of use similar to that of any other software.

Conclusion

Despite being among the finest EV charger locators worldwide on the Play Store and the App Store, ChargeHub is not a one-stop shop. If you purchase a home charger, using further functions will be needed using the company’s app. If you purchase an Electrify America HomeStatation, for instance, you can use its app to find public chargers and access HomeStation services, but it doesn’t display any alternative charging networks.

It’s still not possible to find the ideal software with a fantastic user experience, a helpful trip organizer, filters, the possibility to pay for any charger via the app, and the capability to connect to any manufacturer of home chargers. However, as the market for electric vehicles expands in the ensuing years, we think an amazing software will finally find its way.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will an EV be charged by a sync cable?
An iPod may be connected to a computer via a USB cable. The sync cable for a gadget is typically also used to charge it. Due to the inconvenience of having to plug portable gadgets into outlets and the consequent reduction in mobility, they often run on batteries.

2. Do EV charging stations have Internet access?
The digital infrastructure of interconnected charging stations consists of linked chargers that are hooked remotely to a wider network. As a result, the chargers may obtain online management tools from a distance via an EVSE network, a web portal.

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