The Best Apps for Controlling Your Electric Car. As electric cars become increasingly popular, efficient management tools become a must have. To locate charging stations, map long routes, monitor battery life, and smart charge at home, having efficient apps can make a significant impact in your EV driving life. Here’s a selection of best EV apps out there, designed to make your life with an electric car a lot easier and your driving life a lot improved.
1. PlugShare – Best for Finding Charging Stations
One of the most comprehensive EV charging station finder programs, PlugShare, boasts a worldwide map of chargers that can be reached. With a deep database including a variety of charging networks, PlugShare can filter through stations by connector, network, and availability. User-submitted photos, feedback, and ratings make it simple for drivers to make smart and convenient charging stops. PlugShare’s capabilities don’t stop at filtering, with added features such as checking in at a charger, reporting an issue, and even sharing private residential chargers with fellow PlugShare community members. Need a quick top-off, a full charge, or somewhere in between? PlugShare keeps your options limitless.
2. A Better Route Planner (ABRP) – Best for Long Road Trips
For EV owners planning long trips, an essential app is A Better Route Planner (ABRP). It calculates most efficient routes with real-time consideration for traffic, terrain, temperature, wind, and charging station availability. Users can specify their specific EV model and receive personalized information regarding when and where to charge, making long trips easier. It even ties in with real-time car telemetry for Tesla and compatible EVs, offering reliable estimates of energy consumption. Road trips become a breeze with ABRP, with unnecessary charging stops eliminated and efficiency optimized.
3. ChargePoint – Best for Public Charging
ChargePoint is a renowned charging network with a simple app for EV owners to locate and use its chargers. ChargePoint’s app informs drivers in real-time about charger availability, allows them to remotely start a charging session, and alerts them when charging is complete. ChargePoint even works with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing drivers to access charging information directly through a car’s infotainment system. Other features include RFID card compatibility for convenient authentication, a record of completed charging, and reservation of charging spaces in advance at specific locations. Home charging station integration through ChargePoint’s app provides a single platform for both residential and public charging needs.
4. Tesla App – Best for Tesla Owners
Tesla owners appreciate the Tesla app, with its ease of use for controlling their car remotely. With it, owners can view battery level, precondition the interior, start and stop charging, and even locate their car with a smartphone. Tesla app integration with the Supercharger network allows real-time charger availability and forecasted charge times. Features such as Sentry Mode and access to a real-time camera provide added security and remote observation capabilities to a car. Owners can even use a phone to remotely control climate settings, schedule software updates, and enable keyless driving. Frequent app updates mean it keeps improving with new capabilities and optimizations added regularly.
5. EVgo – Best for Fast Charging On-The-Go
EVgo is a quick-charging network with a dedicated app for discovering and scheduling chargers for its users. With real-time availability and contactless payment, EVgo keeps its users’ charging simple. There is a feature of memberships in its app, providing discounts for charging sessions, and it is a cheap alternative for repeat EV travellers. Users can filter through charging locations in terms of power, types of connector, and pricing packages, and can choose an apt charger for their vehicle. There is session tracking, consumption tracking, and real-time support in case of any issue in its app during charging.
6. MyChevy / MyFordPass / MyBMW – Best for Brand-Specific Features
Many automakers have designed specific EV apps, such as Chevrolet’s MyChevy for Chevrolet EVs, Ford’s MyFordPass for Ford EVs, and MyBMW for BMW EVs. All such apps have general operations such as locking/unlocking remotely, preconditioning of the cabin, and tracking of charge. In addition, they have car health information, software updates, and trip planning specifically for respective car brands’ EVs. All such car-maker-specific apps integrate with car navigation systems to suggest the best charging stops in planned routes. Most such apps integrate with voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant, and with voice commands, one can remotely control many car operations.
7. Electrify America – Best for High-Speed DC Fast Charging
Electrify America’s app is an ideal tool for EV owners who rely on DC fast charging. It helps them search for high-speed charging stations, remotely initiate charging sessions, and view real-time pricing. With provisions for reduced pricing via its membership programs, the Electrify America app is an ideal tool for drivers who utilize high-speed chargers for extended trips regularly. The app provides session history, an estimation of the duration of the charge, and payment via autopay. In addition, Electrify America continues to expand its network, offering added availability of ultra-fast chargers, with a 350 kW capacity, for rapid charging of compatible EVs.
8. GreenCharge – Best for Home Charging Monitoring
Managing home charging can be as big a challenge as finding public charging locations, and GreenCharge simplifies it. Users can track energy use, schedule charging during off-peak times when reduced electricity pricing, and integrate with smart home technology via GreenCharge. With detailed reporting of charging activity and expense, GreenCharge is ideal for homeowners who desire to maximize efficiency in residential charging. Some implementations of GreenCharge involve integration with solar panels and battery packs, and homeowners can use renewable sources for charging. GreenCharge can even notify when electricity is at a lower price, for efficient and environmentally friendly charging.
Final Thoughts
The right EV apps can make driving an electric car a whole lot easier and less stressful. Do you need a reliable charging station finder, a route planner, a car performance tracking app, or a tool for optimizing your at-home charging? There’s a plethora of options out there for whatever your requirements are. By having these types of apps in your arsenal, you can make your EV life easier, save yourself a lot of time, and make yourself ready for whatever’s down the pipeline. As technology continues to move in a positive direction, these types of apps will become even smarter, and driving an EV will become even easier and more efficient.
