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Author: Sarah Hunt | Reading Time: 5 minutes | Published 27/07/2023 | Edited: Laura Henley 08/02/2024
Author: Sarah Hunt
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Published 27/07/2023
Edited: Laura Henley 08/02/2024
Whether you need the best app for EV charging stations in the UK, or just want to know more information about the status of your EV on the go, we have a useful list for you.
If you have taken out a Tesla Model Y lease or an ORA 03 lease, we want to make your life easier. In this article, we have highlighted a selection of the most useful apps for electric car drivers. So, take a look and see if there is an app that you can benefit from.
Screenshots from ZapMap app
“With a mission to make electric vehicle (EV) charging simple, Zap-Map is the UK’s leading EV mapping service and has more than 120,000 cross-platform visitors each month.” – Zap-Map
Have you just picked up your first EV? Perhaps with a Polestar 2 lease? One of the best EV charging apps you will need as an electric car driver is one that can help you locate charging points. Wherever you are driving, knowing where you can get your next charge is important. Zap-Map is an excellent app choice in this regard, allowing drivers to not only search and plan but to also pay (via Zap-Pay) for their next charge all in a single app.
The Zap app contains information on the quality of each charging point, allows you to filter by connector type and will even show you if the chargers are free to use. The Zap-Pay feature of the app, which allows the user to pay for charging across different networks, is especially useful and means no more fumbling for your card.
Screenshots from PlugShare app
“Find EV charging stations, leave reviews, and connect with other plug-in vehicle owners. It’s the most accurate and complete public EV charging map worldwide” - PlugShare
PlugShare is a fantastic app to find EV charging stations. This app helps drivers to not only find EV charging stations they can use but also to leave reviews about the stations and connect with other plug-in vehicle owners.
Being able to read what other drivers have said about a charging station means you can make a more informed decision about which locations to utilise on your travels. Users can also rate the stations and upload photos, contributing towards a truly comprehensive EV owners’ community. PlugShare has over 400,000 EV charging stations worldwide, including the likes of Tesla and ChargePoint.
Screenshots from Co Charger app
“Enabling people with EV chargers to share them with neighbours, so they can swap to an electric vehicle” – Co Charger
Around 50% of drivers are unable to install their own home charger, and with around 400,000 home chargers across the UK, why not allow someone who can’t install a charger at their home to use yours?
All you need to do is download the app and set up a profile, where you can either rent your charger out or arrange to use a neighbour’s charger. Plus, you only pay for the time that the charger is actually charging your car so you’re able to set a session and not worry about unplugging it straight away.
The payments are secure, you can set reminders, schedule sessions and communicate all through the app – it’s that simple!
Screenshot from Google Maps
“All you have to do is plug in your journey details, tap the option for ‘search along route’, and then search for ‘EV charging stations’” - Carparison
Did you know that Google Maps is one of the most useful apps you can have as an electric car driver? If you don’t have a dedicated EV charger app downloaded and just enjoy the clean interface of Google’s products, you will be pleased to hear that Google Maps, while working as a route planner for long journeys on the road, can also tell you where the EV charging points are, making it easy to plan your next journey.
All you have to do is plug in your journey details, tap the option for ‘search along route’, and then search for ‘EV charging stations’. Then Google Maps will present you with all the stations along your route, with details about the type of chargers available. If you are someone who is always using Google Maps for your car journeys, this function is a convenient choice.
Download on Android (Already installed by default on Android devices).
Additionally: If Google Maps isn’t your cup of tea, one of the world’s most popular traffic navigation apps, WAZE, allows you to search for EV charging stations but is currently considering a feature similar to Google Maps that would indicate the closest charging stations for EVs while also allowing drivers find these locations on the map along their chosen routes.
Screenshots of WattsUp app
“Enjoy the ability to easily view a chosen route knowing that the charger information is comprehensive and precise.” - WattsUp
If you are looking for an app possessing all the right features to get you and your EV safely to your destination, WattsUp is a great choice. Instead of displaying any and all charging stations when you search, the app first requires you to set your criteria, therefore only showing you charging points applicable to you and your car.
If you are fed up with wading through stations that aren’t compatible with your car and want something a little more direct, this could be the app for you. Further still, it features live status updates, voice prompts and provides an estimated time to reach your next charge point, which will certainly come in handy when navigating unfamiliar parts of the country.
Screenshots from EV Hotels app
“Why sleep at the charger? Charge where you sleep” – EV Hotels
If you’re the ultimate road-tripper and have recently made the switch to electric vehicles, you need to download the EV Hotels app.
Claiming to be the only EV app that highlights which hotels have charging stations, it can help you find where to stay and where to charge your EV, all at the same time. And if you can’t find the ideal EV hotel, it shows charging options that are within walking distance too.
It costs £2.99 to download which gives you worldwide access to over 250,000 hotels, over 25,000 EV hotels and over 100,000 charging stations – perfect if you want to charge along the way too.
Screenshots from JustPark app
“Choose from millions of available spaces or reserve your space in advance. Join over 10 million drivers enjoying easy parking” – JustPark
If you hate visiting a busy city with no guaranteed parking and don’t want to spend ages looking for one, meet the simplest way to book a parking space.
Whether you’re travelling far for an evening gig or having a weekend away, the JustPark app can help you reserve a parking space. With a huge network of private driveways and bookable spaces, there are plenty of options.
All you have to do is pop in your destination’s postcode or search for a key location. Click on a listing to find out more details and then complete your booking by providing your vehicle details and a payment method. You’ll then receive a confirmation email containing key information like access instructions.
Screenshots from RingGo app
“RingGo let’s you take control of your parking. With car parks in over 500 towns and cities, you simply park, pay and get on with your day” – RingGo
We’ve probably all used RingGo to pay for parking, but did you know you can search for electric vehicle charging points too?
Wanting to support electric mobility, RingGo hopes this feature will reduce the hassle of searching for a charging point. You’ll be able to view a map of over 5,500 EV charging points across the UK and you’ll be directed to the charger you choose as well through the navigation feature.
You can filter options by selecting the type of charging point that will suit your vehicle or you can select your preferred provider.
Screenshots from the AA app
“Everything you need at your fingertips” – The AA
If you’re looking for an all-rounder app that not only supports EV drivers with chargers and parking, the AA app will be right up your street. You’re able to report a breakdown, plan your journey route, stay up to date with your maintenance and set reminders for a service or MOT.
It’s even better if you’re an EV driver as you’ll be able to plug in your destination, see parking spaces nearby and check for electric charging points.
From Vauxhall and BMW to Nissan and Audi, many of the world’s leading manufacturers have apps available that will prove useful to EV drivers, so make sure to download the app that pertains to your vehicle for the best experience.
While third-party electric car apps can be really useful for EV owners, sometimes it really helps to go straight to the source. In this case, that means your car’s manufacturer. Many EV manufacturers like Tesla have their own apps which can be a great source of information and tools for drivers to take advantage of.
For example, those who have a Tesla lease can utilise the Tesla app and get their car’s range status, check charging progress in real-time and have the ability to start or stop charging your car from the app itself. You can even summon your car from your garage with the autopilot feature.
Ford also have an app for EV drivers called FordPass. This app has a host of great features such as being able to control your charging from a distance and bringing you charge station information via PlugShare.
As you can see, there are some wonderful apps available for electric car drivers. Whether you want to find your nearest charging point or get the most out of your vehicle, there’s an app that can make it happen.
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