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Join the club: Apps to speed EV charging experience

February 5, 2025

Now that you have bought your first EV, how will you keep it charged? Plugging into a standard 12-volt household outlet could take 50 hours or more to recharge a depleted battery. Drivers with garage space can install a Level 2 240-volt charger, which slices recharge time to 4 to 10 hours to reach 80 to 100 percent.

EV drivers without access to home charging are dependent on public charging, but it can be challenging to find an open charger and then swipe your credit card to get things started, with the hope there are no glitches with the payment system.

Downloading apps from network providers can improve your experience, said Electrify America spokesman Octavio Navarro.

A mobile app on a smartphone is like a loyalty perk. A network provider’s app will contain the user’s credit card information and identify available chargers, ruling out any that are down for repair.

“Starting the charge is much easier and works 95 percent of the time, vs. about 80 percent with just a credit card,” Navarro said. “People just showing up (without an app) have to wait if no charger is available.”

In-car app technology

Meanwhile, public EV charging is on the threshold of a dream with the advent of in-car app technology, said J.P. Canton, vice president of global communications for ChargePoint, a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The dream for users, he said, “is to show up, plug in, pay, and go.”

“In-car charging technology is where the apps are going,” Canton said. “The next element is how are you finding, arriving and initiating the charge? The embedded charging app will tell the charger that the registered user is here and ready to charge.”

Some automakers are exploring partnerships with charging systems that allow drivers to make reservations at specific chargers. When the driver taps on the vehicle infotainment screen to seek a charge station, the system will locate it, map the route to the station, and reserve a slot in the user’s name.

“Moving from phone to dashboard is progressing pretty quickly,” Canton said. But until all EVs have built-in charging apps, a network’s charging app will still be needed to expedite the process.

Apps for public charging networks include:

PlugShare: Shows the location of more than 300,000 charging stations worldwide and allows users to filter by plug type.
ChargePoint: Helps users find and manage charging slots and shows sites based on price and speed.
EVgo: Helps users find and pay for charging at EVgo’s 1,050 DC fast chargers.
ChargeHub: Shows the location and status of charging stations across the US, including in rural areas.
Chargeway: Helps users find working chargers and determine if they have enough range to reach them.
EVHotels: Helps users find hotels with charging stations or charging stations near hotels.
Chargemap: Has a large network of charging points, including more than 450,000 in Europe.
Zap-Map: Offers customizable trip planning and allows users to select from three routing methods.

Independent apps

Along the way to a one-step charging experience are independent apps, some of which are supported by new-vehicle manufacturers.

A unique and independent app for planning long-distance travel is A Better Route Planner. The app allows users to plan travel by factoring in charging stops based on their vehicle’s range and available charging stations along the route. It is considered one of the best options specifically for EV drivers when planning long trips.

There’s also Plug & Charge, which streamlines the charging experience without the driver having to pull out a credit card, present an RFID card or use a mobile app. Plug & Charge is not an app but an embedded protocol in new EVs. Though not available yet for all makes or models of electric vehicles, it allows users to check for available stalls or nonfunctioning chargers.

When using Plug & Charge, the session begins as soon as the driver connects their EV’s charging cable to the charge port. EV owners with vehicles compatible with Plug & Charge will create an account with the charging network provider and the payment method. The system will automatically identify the vehicle and begin charging, billing the user through the pre-registered account

Mark Maynard has been writing about cars, their people, and products for 30 years. Email him at [email protected] and visit his website, MaynardsGarage.com.

The news and editorial staffs of Southern California News Group and The San Diego Union-Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.

Orange County Register

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Join the club: Apps to speed EV charging experience

In-car app technology

Independent apps

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