Useful apps for electric car drivers

You’ve got your high-tech car, now wouldn’t some high-tech apps be nice to ensure you have a smooth ride?

Finding a fuel station now is easy as pie. But what about somewhere to charge up your EV?

Not so easy.

There are now apps to guide you to the best EV charging stations in the UK, no matter where you are.

Or are you wondering about the status of your electric car on the go? There’s even an app for this now. 

Modern technology, am I right?

There are plenty of apps out there to make your life easier. So, we've compiled this list of the best apps for electric car drivers to help you.

Buckle up, let’s dive right in.

Best EV charging apps

Zap-Map/Zap-Pay

One of the most helpful apps you’ll ever have as a proud owner of an electric car is one that helps you to 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 is especially useful and means no more fumbling for your card – a massive timesaver.

Download on Apple iOS.

Download for Android.

PlugShare

Another great way to find EV charging stations, PlugShare allows drivers to not only find charging stations, but also leave reviews on them and connect with other plug-in vehicle drivers.

Having other driver’s unbiased opinions allows you to make an informed decision.

Users can also rate the stations and upload photos, contributing towards a truly comprehensive EV owners’ community. 

Download for Apple iOS.

Download for Android.

Co Charger

Did you know that around 50% of drivers are unable to install their own home charger?

But there are around 400,000 home chargers across the UK. So, why not utilise this while also helping others and allow someone who can’t install a charger at 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 really is that simple.

Download on Apple iOS.

Download on Android.

Optiwatt

Now this one is slightly different compared to the other typical EV charging apps. Optiwatt doesn’t help you find charging points near you or connect you with other EV drivers.

What it does is helps you to save money.

It schedules your car to charge when the electricity rates are the lowest.

So instead of you plugging it in to charge when you get home – usually a peak time – Optiwatt will schedule it to charge at an off-peak time. But it will still be fully charged for when you need it.

To make it even better - it’s free forever.

Optiwatt even claims to reduce your EV charging costs by up to 70%, what’s not to love?

Download on Apple iOS.

Download on Android.

Best EV travel apps

Google Maps

I know, Google Maps sounds like an obvious must-have app for any driver.

But 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 one of the charging apps mentioned above, 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.

Download on Apple IOS.

Download on Android (Already installed by default on Android devices).

WattsUp

Here to make your life simpler, WattsUp (not to be confused with WhatsApp) requires you to set your criteria before you search. This allows it to only show 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 on your next road trip.

Download for Apple iOS.

Download for Android.

EV Hotels

Are you the ultimate road-tripper? Maybe you’ve just made the switch to electric car leasing.

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.

Download for Apple iOS.

Best EV parking apps

JustPark

Imagine this: you’ve been driving around a car park, tirelessly searching for a spot.

You think you’ve found one.

You’re about to turn into it.

Then you see a small car in there.

No other spaces either, what do you do?

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.

Download for Apple iOS.

Download for Android.

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.

Download for Apple iOS.

Download for Android.

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.

Download for Apple iOS.

Download for Android.

Manufacturer apps

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.

Tesla

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.

Download for Apple iOS.

Download for Android.

Ford

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.

Download for Apple iOS.

Download for Android.

Best apps for EV drivers to download

• Zap-Map/Zap-Pay
• PlugShare
• Co Charger
• Google Maps
• WattsUp
• EV Hotels
• JustPark
• RingGo
• The AA
• Manufacturer apps

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.