Smart Route-Planning Apps: Navigating the Charging Challenge for EV Owners

These applications offer the navigational intelligence that some electric cars are missing

Electric vehicle drivers quickly realize that, when it comes to long journeys, locating charging stations is often more critical than the distance the EV can travel on a single charge.

This is due in part to the fact that charging an electric vehicle to full capacity as quickly as possible is not as straightforward as refueling a car with gasoline. Unlike choosing a fuel type, inserting the pump, and anticipating a uniform refueling speed at any location, EV charging doesn't work that way.

For electric vehicles to recharge quickly and efficiently, it's essential to connect them to the right charger and connector when the battery level is around 10%. The latest fast-charging electric cars can boost their battery from 10% to 80% in less than half an hour, but this rapid recharge rate is only possible if they start charging when the battery is nearly depleted.

This necessitates a tactical method for organizing a journey, considering the locations of the quickest charging stations on the path, and determining if they align with the times when the battery is nearly depleted to take advantage of the quickest possible charging break.

Tesla took the lead early on with its innovative approach. Over ten years ago, with the release of the Model S, it introduced a sophisticated route planner accessible through the vehicle or a mobile application. This feature has been continuously improved upon in conjunction with the expansion of its Supercharger network.

Upcoming 2024 Model of the Volkswagen

Upcoming 2024 model of the VW

Upcoming 2024 Model of VW ID

Competitors in the automotive industry are gaining ground. For example, Ford and Volkswagen have made significant enhancements to their navigation systems. Volkswagen's ID.4 now features a system that intuitively plans charging stations along your journey and allows for effortless changes to the itinerary. Meanwhile, Rivian has taken to evaluating the electric vehicle charging locations programmed into its cars' navigation systems to improve usability. General Motors, Polestar, and Volvo are some of the car manufacturers utilizing a type of Google Maps integration, which isn't foolproof.

However, numerous electric vehicles on the market lack a route planner capable of adjusting the journey or charging points when needed. For instance, the Subaru Solterra I tested could locate charging stations, yet it lacked the functionality to prioritize these stations based on my battery's charge level.

2024 Model of Subaru Solterra

Today, many car manufacturers still struggle to consistently provide their customers with the necessary information and resources to fully utilize their Electric Vehicles' (EV) driving range and charging capabilities. Over the past few years, proactive EV owners have been searching for improved options, as other car makers lag behind in offering services comparable to those provided by Tesla.

This includes sincere attempts to consolidate various charging networks into unified brand applications for gadgets or the car's system. Although these efforts are typically beneficial, they can occasionally lead to more confusion when compatible charging stations are omitted, causing concern among consumers about the availability of charging options.

Our suggestion is to utilize your proprietary brand application. Additionally, on your electric vehicle journeys, consider employing an alternative routing app. You may discover a more efficient path and potentially a new preferred option.

Enhanced Chargeway

Chargeway is widely recognized for its innovative color-coded system that helps EV owners identify compatible charging connectors. Beyond this, for several years, Chargeway has also delivered a route-planning feature available on both iOS and Android platforms. This feature utilizes a comprehensive database of charging station details to optimize charging times according to the specific electric vehicle and the conditions of the drive. For those with more than one electric vehicle, the app allows the addition of each vehicle for tailored route planning for each individual EV.

Everything offered has been at no cost to users, but Chargeway is now introducing a paid option. In June, following a trial period and initial rollout in Austin, it unveiled a collection of advanced Chargeway Plus features for electric vehicles. These features provide owners with access to instantaneous battery charge levels, estimated driving range, and the ability to oversee charging processes. Chargeway achieves this by connecting to your EV's existing online services, with your consent. Furthermore, Chargeway is looking to incorporate live pricing information, charging station activation, and payment options – transforming the app into a comprehensive tool for a range of activities, from unlocking your electric vehicle to organizing your home charging routine and planning charging stops for your trips ahead.

An Improved Navigation System Compatible with Apple CarPlay

An Improved Journey Planner

When it comes to mapping out a journey, An Improved Journey Planner (AIJP) stands out as the go-to choice, particularly among electric vehicle (EV) owners frustrated by the inadequate or absent planning tools included with their cars. AIJP provides essential EV trip planning services at no cost, ensuring optimal placement of charging stations throughout the trip.

To access its compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as manage several cars through one platform, a top-tier subscription is required at a cost of $5 monthly or $50 annually. Similar to Chargeway, this service considers both climate conditions and traffic patterns. It connects to your car's telematics to monitor battery levels and charge status. With the premium version, A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) can integrate with your car's data via your existing mobile connection. Additionally, it provides an OBD plug-in device that connects to your car's onboard diagnostics port and syncs with its iOS or Android app.

Integrating PlugShare into Apple's Car

In 2009, PlugShare emerged as a unique innovation—a map-based search tool for electric vehicle (EV) drivers seeking charging points. It quickly became a frontrunner in helping users find charging locations tailored to their specific connector requirements or energy demands. By 2015, it had integrated a basic route planning feature. During its initial half-decade, PlugShare expanded to include community-contributed ratings, user critiques, and even introduced a basic payment option for charging, providing an alternative to the assortment of physical access cards and key fobs that were standard then.

PlugShare, despite being under the ownership of EVgo's parent company, continues to maintain an unbiased approach in its filtering, interface, and navigation features. The app is available at no cost for both iOS and Android users and supports integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, it is ad-supported, with the option for users to subscribe at a rate of $0.99 monthly or $9.99 annually to eliminate ads.

Integration of Apple Maps into Porsche Taycan vehicles

Apple Maps Integration

Apple Maps, when integrated with Apple CarPlay and after the user inputs their electric vehicle's details, offers navigation suggestions tailored to the vehicle's expected driving range. Certain vehicles such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Porsche Taycan, BMW i4, among others, benefit from battery warming features. This can potentially reduce the duration of charging sessions in chilly conditions, provided that it's utilized through the car's built-in navigation or manually activated by the driver.

The electric vehicle charging feature on Google Maps

Google Maps' feature for locating electric vehicle charging

The feature in Google Maps that allows users to

Google's journey in refining its navigation software has been swift and impactful. Initially, the tech giant introduced information on electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to its Google Maps application exclusively for Android users in 2018. The following year, Google integrated a feature for dynamic EV pathfinding, which didn't gain significant utility until 2023 when it began to classify charging stations by their charging speed. Google Maps, now a component of the "Google Maps Platform," has taken on a more critical role as it's become the default navigation system in cars that are equipped with "Google built-in." Looking ahead, users should anticipate the introduction of subscription fees by Google and car manufacturers for accessing this service in vehicles within the next few years.

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