If you’re over a certain age, then you remember things like paper maps (or AAA trip tiks). You also, likely, remember having no idea how far the next gas station might be when you were traveling. Sometimes, you might get a sign on a highway, but between no detailed data regarding how much farther you could travel on existing fuel or where the next fueling opportunity would be, it was stressful.
For EV drivers, the same was true in the early days of ownership, but EV charging apps changed all that by taking the guesswork out of charging and, hopefully, limiting range anxiety. But, not all charging apps are created equal and simply installing or accepting a default may not be your best option. Understanding what to look for in your EV charging app is essential for EV drivers as it can significantly improve the charging experience.
Quick Links
- What are EV Charging Apps?
- Features and Functions of EV Charging Apps
- Why Networked EV Chargers Matter for Drivers
- EV Charging Technology and Its Impact on the Charging Experience
- What to Look for in an EV Charging App
What are EV Charging Apps?
Ever wonder how EV drivers find an open charging station? EV charging apps! EV (Electric Vehicle) charging apps are mobile and phone applications that help electric vehicle drivers find, access, and pay for charging. They play a crucial role, for both drivers and EV charging station owners, in facilitating the charging process by providing information on the location of charging stations, real-time availability, pricing, and other relevant details.
Features and Functions of EV Charging Apps
Of course, and thankfully, EV charging apps have progressed over the years. Initially, they were a bit like a road sign indicating an EV charging station was near, but driver demand, technology improvements, and reliability issues have pushed the apps to be a bit more robust. These days, EV charging apps often include the following features:
1. Station Locator
As noted, the most important part of being able to charge your vehicle is finding a charging station. EV charging apps typically include a map or station locator feature which is particularly useful when you’re in unfamiliar areas or planning longer trips.
There’s little sense in heading over to a charging station if it’s in use (especially for Level 2 chargers which take a bit longer). To combat that potential frustration, many apps provide real-time information on the availability of charging stations which also helps drivers plan charging stops more efficiently.
3. Charging Station Details
Depending on the app one uses, you might be able to get detailed information about each charging station, including the types of connectors available, charging speeds, and any additional amenities such as parking availability or nearby facilities. For many drivers, the charging speed and connectors available are vital, though more and more flexibility is being built into charging stations themselves.
4. Payment and Authentication
While there may be circumstances where charging is free, most EV charging stations charge a fee, either a flat fee or by kWh. EV charging apps allow users to pay for charging sessions directly through the app. Some apps may also provide authentication features to start and stop charging sessions, ensuring a secure and convenient experience.
5. User Reviews
Some EV charging apps will allow users to leave reviews, sharing their experiences with others. As a driver, this can be super helpful before you reroute to an EV charging station.
6. Trip Planning
As an EV driver, trip planning is essential as drivers may need to create a route based on where EV charging stations are located. This can be particularly useful for long-distance travel, so EV drivers can find charging stations along their route.
7. Integration with In-Car Systems
Some EV charging apps can integrate with in-car systems, allowing users to access charging information directly from their vehicle's display. While not available with every EV charging app, as with improved and enhanced driver displays, this could become a more standard feature.
Largely, the features available via an EV charging app are dependent upon EV charging station providers, as many have proprietary charging apps which can limit a driver’s ability to charge at their stations. Other charging apps are open charge point protocol (OCPP) compliant which allows various apps to communicate with charging stations and facilitate charging and payment.
Then, there are apps like Plugshare which allow users to find available charging stations; filter by public charging station type (Level 2 or Fast DC), reliability, availability and more; leave reviews, and connect with other EV drivers.
The availability and features of these apps may vary depending on the region and the charging infrastructure in place. As the popularity of electric vehicles continues to grow, the functionality and convenience provided by these apps are likely to evolve and improve. However, EV charging apps require networked EV charging stations, so understanding why those are so important is key.
Why Networked EV Chargers Matter for Drivers
Networked EV charging stations are essential for helping drivers and station owners stay connected. Not only do they simplify finding functioning EV charging stations, but they also help EV station owners monitor for issues to ensure those stations are functioning.
Networked EV charging stations are not connected to the internet, which helps with connectivity and security concerns, but they are connected to one another and as well as a charging station platform management system also known as a CPMS. These connections are what enable remote monitoring of stations, help control fee structures, ensure visibility within EV charging apps, and more.
Of course, this means there are non-networked stations. Non-networked stations may be known to you, or you may happen upon them “in the wild” vs locating them using an app. However, non-networked charging stations come with potential problems most of which are related to the lack of visibility for owners and drivers alike. In other words, the same issue that makes them invisible on charging apps is the same issue that means station owners cannot monitor them for issues. This, unfortunately, can contribute to poor driver experience when it comes to EV charging reliability.
EV Charging Technology and Its Impact on the Charging Experience
As an EV owner, or someone considering purchasing one, you’ve undoubtedly heard just about every challenge.
“Aren’t EVs expensive?”
“Isn’t charging expensive?”
“Doesn’t it take a really long time to charge?”
“Isn’t it hard to find chargers?”
“How far can an EV drive anyhow?”
“What happens if the battery dies?”
And with that, we’d like to remind everyone of early cell phones. They were expensive, big, heavy, unreliable, fees were excessive, and often they didn’t work because you couldn’t get reception. Remind you of anything? Us too. It’s important to remember that we didn’t move from Nokia bricks to smartphones in a year. Progress was steady and the same is true in the EV industry.
Over the last decade in particular, we see EV technology, and EV charging technology, improving at a rapid pace. With significant investments, we’re seeing improvements in EV batteries including their cost, power density, thermal performance, and more. All of these will decrease the cost of EVs, improve their performance, and improve battery life.
Similarly, advancements in EV charging technology are making significant strides. AI is helping monitor and provide level 1 maintenance to network chargers, identifying areas with low charger density and high demand, manage power, and plan routes. Similarly, RFID and geofencing can help provide better service to drivers as well as helping station owners manage who charges and when. This, of course, encourages greater adoption and implementation of EV charging stations which is a win all around.
What to Look for in an EV Charging App
Given all of that information, the next question is what should an EV driver be looking for when selecting an EV charging app. While the temptation may be to choose the app associated with your electric vehicle, it may not be the best option. It’s far more important to choose an EV charging app that provides a seamless and convenient charging experience.
1. Choose an EV charging app with a user-friendly interface.
Even regular gas pumps are mostly standardized to make it easier for drivers. If you’ve used any clunky smart phone app, there are few things more frustrating than needing to search for the services or features you want. EV charging apps should provide a straightforward and intuitive navigation system. Information about charging station locations, availability, and pricing should be easy to find and clear. For example, a map feature with real-time updates helps drivers find nearby charging stations easily.
Imagine finding an EV charging station on your app and pulling up only to find the station isn’t functioning. It’s one of the experiences currently frustrating EV drivers, and for good reason. A charging app should provide accurate and up-to-date information about the status of charging stations. This includes information on whether a station is currently in use, the expected charging time, and any potential issues with the station. Reliability also extends to the payment system, ensuring that transactions are secure and hassle-free.
3. Compatibility with multiple charging networks is important.
This is where the open charge point protocol (OCPP) we discussed early comes into play. Once you find a working and available charging station in range, you want to make sure you can still use it with your app. Since various charging stations are operated by different companies and networks, a versatile app that supports a wide range of providers ensures more options for EV drivers. This flexibility is highly desirable during longer trips where available EV charging stations from different networks can vary and may be more difficult to find.
4. Prioritizing integration with smart features and technologies is highly desirable.
If you’ve used parking apps with smart features, then you’re used to the alerts and notifications that come when your parking has nearly expired. The same smart features are great in a charging app. This includes remotely monitoring and controlling the charging process, receiving notifications about charging status, and planning routes with charging stops along the way. Similarly, integration with digital assistants and smart home platforms can enhance the overall user experience.
5. Consider cost transparency a vital feature.
It’s no secret that much like surge pricing on ride apps (and nearly everything else these days), costs for charging your EV vary. For EV drivers to manage their charging expenses effectively and leverage off-peak hours, a reliable charging app should provide detailed information about pricing structures, including any additional fees or subscription costs. Real-time cost estimates based on current electricity prices and charging duration can contribute to a more informed decision-making process.
6. Features that connect the EV community add value.
What are community features? Features like user reviews, ratings, and comments about charging stations not only foster collaborative EV community relationships, but can help drivers make informed decisions and share insights about their charging experiences. Similarly, these same reviews and insights can push for greater EV infrastructure. For example, a series of bad reviews about non-functional EV charging stations may drive station owners to improve their technology or make the necessary changes and upgrades to improve the driver experience.
A powerful, flexible, and robust EV charging app is a vital part of EV infrastructure as a whole. Much like any system, each moving part must pull its own weight and EV charging apps are an important connector between infrastructure and driver. Ultimately, their performance will hold an important key in driving adoption and improving the overall EV charging experience for drivers.
If you’re looking for an EV charging app, NovaCHARGE offers ChargeUP which is not only a charging app for drivers, but also functions as a charging platform management system for station owners. If you’re looking for maximum flexibility, power, transparency, and control, get in touch with the experts at NovaCHARGE and let’s start living in the future of improved EV technology.
