Last Updated on September 8, 2022

In the last decade, the electric vehicle market has seen a rapid evolution with the ongoing development in the automotive sector. The sensitivity of different governments across the world toward a cleaner environment has increased the demand for electric vehicles and EV charging station apps. Developed countries including the USA, UK, and Germany are promoting the use of electric vehicles for reducing emissions, that’s why electric vehicles are observing huge growth. In automotive cars, the electric vehicle industry is being dominated by global players like Tesla, BYD, BMW, Volkswagen, and Nissan.

When a customer buys an electric car, then you can’t maintain it in an ordinary way. You will require some apps especially a charging station finder app to find charging stations. An electric vehicle charging station finder app can save from any trouble in times of need. You can’t be careless like the ordinary petrol or gasoline car whose fuelling stations are everywhere. In fact, you’ll have to be more strategic about refueling, but with the help of apps that direct you to EV charging stations near you. In this article, we will be going through every aspect of an EV charging station finder app.

What Is An EV Charging Station Finder App?

An EV Charging Station Finder App will show the location of charging across stations across your locality. You will get various info on the app such as what type of plugs the stations support. For example, cars like Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Bolt use the same plug for Level 1 & 2 charging but uses a different plugin for Level 3 charging.

These apps let you find the ratings, real-time availability, photos, and descriptions of the charging station. The users can also add EV charging points as they discover. The users can also turn on notifications which will send an alert when there will be a charging station nearby.

How Does Electric Vehicle Charging App Works?

ev app working
Source

You have to download the EV charging station finder app from the App store depending upon the OS (Google Play Store for Android & Apple App Store for iOS). After downloading and installing the app, you may need to register or login into the app. Now the user has to share the location or enter the address or find his locality on the in-built maps. Thereafter, you will find the number of charging stations on the basis of your location. The app uses GPS for identifying the user’s location just like how the Google Maps screen works. Mostly these apps are free to use.

Benefits of EV Charging Station Location Finder App

ev charging management appIf you have launched an EV charging station, then taking your business online can be the best business decision you will ever make. Developing an EV charging station finder app will be your best investment if you are jumping into the EV charging station business. It will increase the visibility of your business and will generate more revenue.

An EV charging station finder app allows the car owners to not wait in the long queue at the charging station. The users can book the spot in advance so that they don’t need to wait at the time of need. Thus, there will be no hassle for users to charge their electric vehicles.

There are many other benefits of developing an EV charging station app. You can track the stats and finance of your charging station business including the profit earning daily, electricity consumption at each station, details of the customers, successful or failed payment transactions, customers reaching your refueling station, issues customers are facing on your charging station, and feedback.

Why Invest In EV charging Locator App?

electric-vehicle-charging-system-market
Source: AlliedMarketResearch

The Electric Vehicle market has been projected to reach 26,951,318 units by 2030 from an estimated 3,269,671 units in 2019, at a CAGR of 21.1% during this period. The encouraging incentives for electric vehicles and huge investments by companies are expected to fuel the electric vehicle market. According to the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), the demand for EVs is on rising with improved batteries, more readily available charging infrastructure, new markets, and internal combustible engines. The study finds that EVs hit 10% of global passenger vehicle sales by 2025, rising to 28% in 2030 and 58% in 2040.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), the demand for EVs
Source: BNEF

In 2019, electric cars were accounted for 2.6% of global car sales which was 2.1 million, surpassing 2018 – already a record year. At the end of this year, there were nearly 7.3 million charges worldwide, an increase of 2.1 million from 2018. Among these, about 6.5 million chargers were private, light vehicle slow chargers. Basically, it means that the Type 1 and Type 2 slow chargers will be the preferred mode of charging for the general public.

Major EV charging networks in the US  as per Alternative Fuels Data Center (March 31, 2019)

US EV CHARGING NETWORK RANKINGS
Source: EVadoption

Monetization Opportunities For EV Charging Station App

After developing a mobile app it is obvious that you will wish to make money through it. There are several ways of making money through a mobile app such as advertisement, membership fees, transaction commissions, etc. We will know each of these methods in more detail.

1. Advertisement

Advertisement is the most common method of making in mobile apps. The apps show advertisements either through pop-ups, sidebars, videos, etc. Many EV Charging Station Finder Apps don’t charge a penny from the users to use them but instead, they put up advertising displays and their revenue comes from advertising fees.

2. eCommerce Integration

In the revenue model, your goal would be to make a profit while not frustrating or looting the users. Integrating ecommerce facilities through membership can make you earn a profit. For using the app, the user must subscribe to the app by paying a fee. Thus, you will make money every time a user subscribes to your app. If you want to give membership for free then you can charge them for making a booking at the charging station, and charge from both users and the charging
stations.

Top EV Charging Station Finder Mobile Apps

There is no doubt over the fact that today’s smartphones have become a part of our life. They can give an extra purpose to people who drive electric cars. The EV charging station finder app can let them find a charging station when needed. Here are the best EV charging station finder mobile apps:

a. PlugShare

Plugshare ev charging station appPlugShare is one of the most popular mobile apps for finding charging stations across the world. You can use this app to find charging stations, give reviews, and connect with other EV owners. The app comes with very high accuracy. It is having a huge network in North America, Europe, and most other parts of the globe. It comprises more than 400,000 charging stations across the globe.

A user can search the station on the basis of area, network, and the type of connection used. You can also know which charging station is free and which charges money. You can also make payments through the app.

Features

  • Notifications that will alert you when there is a charging station nearby
  • Pay directly through the app
  • Check station ratings, real-time availability, photos, and descriptions
  • Add EV Charging points as you discover them
  • Find all the stations along a road trip route

Other Details

  • No. of Downloads: 1 million+
  • Rating: 4.6
  • App URLs: Android, iOS

b. ChargePoint

chargepoint evehicle charging appChargePoint comprises a huge network of electric vehicle charging stations. The app relies on NFC, so tap your phone against a charging station to start charging. You don’t need to even open the app for initiating the process. There are more than 100,000 charging spots on the app. On the app, you can check how much your car has been charged, how much power it has received, an estimate of the miles gained, and the cost of charging (if it isn’t free).

Features

  • Real-time checking of which charging stations are available
  • Real-time updates of your charging status
  • Advice from other drivers about a charging station
  • See  your charging history and trends including miles and cost
  • Schedule charging, set reminders, get notifications and track usage.

Other Details

  • No. of Downloads: 100 Thousands+
  • Rating: 4.5
  • App URLs: Android, iOS

c. EVgo

evgo electric vehicle charging station finder appEVgo is having the largest charging network in the United States. However, as per the reviews of the users, it shows that it may cost more than its competitors, that’s why it has quite lower ratings. You would be able to locate the charging stations and see which are currently available to use. But the app doesn’t show how much your car has been charged.

Features

  • You can quickly start with a quick swipe to the right
  • Locate chargers by precise directions
  • Real-time update of every charger location

Other Details

  • No. of Downloads: 50 Thousands+
  • Rating: 3.7
  • App URLs: Android, iOS

d. Chargemap

Chargemap vehicle charging station finder appChargemap is being used by more than 330,000 electric car drivers who can find and locate a charging point in the blink of an eye. The app is based in France and emphasizes how many countries and networks it supports. There is a very polished interface of the Chargemap with numerous filter options. However, you can’t use the app unless you create an account on it.

Features

  • Find charging points near a specific location
  • Check charging point availability in real-time.
  • Add reviews, comments, photos, and perform check-ins
  • Share details of new charging stations with the community

Other Details

  • No. of Downloads: 100 Thousands+
  • Rating: 4.5
  • App URLs: Android, iOS
Hire mobile app developers

What Are Some Major EV Charging Network Providers?

Here are the major charging network providers across India, and many other countries:

a. Tata Power

tata power ev chargingTata is a highly popular name in India, a company which having involvement in Cars, Communication, aviation, and electric cars as well. The company is offering to charge for their Electric cars, commercial spaces, office charging, as well as public charging. It is having a presence in 9 states and in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad.

Tata Power established its first charging station in Mumbai. MoUs for commercial charging stations at HPCL, IOCL, and IGL outlets. It is also having its own app so the EV owner can locate charging stations on an aerial map, get charging updates, and can also pay online.

b. Fortum

fortum ev chargingFortum’s Charge  & Drive Platform specializes in providing charging services for electric vehicles. It is a global energy company with 3000 smart chargers in Nordic countries. The company uses advanced technology and chargers such as a 50 kW DC rapid charger, 15 or 20 kW DC 001 charger. Fortum aims to make it easier for using electric vehicles, operate and grow charging networks, and move towards a cleaner world.

c. Ather Energy

ather ev chargingAther is a highly popular company for its electric vehicles especially scooters. The company has launched Ather Dot. It is a dedicated, connected and easy-to-install home charger to recharge your electric vehicle in your own parking space.

d. Magenta Group

magentagroup ev chargingMagenta group is known as EVSE manufacturers, EV charging solutions, and network charging providers. They launched the “ChargeGrid” series for charging in home spaces, apartments, PCS, and commercial spaces. ChargeGrid can connect you with a mobile app.

What Are The Key Features of EV Charging Station Locator App?

These are the main features of an EV Charging station locator App:

1. Filter EV Station Search
plugshare Filters for EV charging Station SearchThe user should be able to filter the charging station as per his/her requirements. Some of the most common filter options are:

  • Station Category (Public, HighPower, LowPower, etc.)
  • By Charging Networks (Charging network of any particular company)
  • Charging Plugs ( The type of plug available at charging station)
  • Station Amenities ( Features of a charging station)
  • Reviews & Ratings
  • Availability (Restricted, Under Maintenance, Closed)
plugshare trip planner for ev owners
Source: PlugShare

2. Book Charging at Station
electric vehicle charging station finder appThe user should be able to book a slot of charging at a station so the user doesn’t have to wait or stand in queue for hours.
3. Trip Planner Panel
If the user is going on a long trip then he/she should get notifications for charging as per the nearest charging station and battery of the vehicle.
4. Payment Facility
The payment facility will help the user to make the payment digitally and in advance. Also, it will let the user keep tracking of spending on charging.
5. Add your Station
This feature is quite common in many apps. The users should be able to add the details of a new charging station that is not in the app and they have discovered.
6. Share your residential charger
If you have your personal residential charger, then you will be able to share it with other users either free or paid.

Advanced Features In An E-Vehicle Charging Station App

Apart from the above-mentioned common features, you may also include some advanced features to make your app stay ahead of your competitors. Here are some advanced features to consider:

In-app Navigation
ev charging station location map appIn-app Navigation through GPS and using a maps API such as Google Maps will allow the user to find charging stations in real-time on the map. The users can also get directions to the charging spot through the app.
Multiple Payment
You can’t expect to use a single payment facility in today’s time. There are many methods for digital payment such as credit/debit card, Net banking, UPI, popular wallets, etc. You can even create your own wallet. This will let the user to store money for particularly charging.
GPS Tracking
GPS tracking is similar to In-App Navigation. GPS tracking allows the user to find its own and the nearby charging station location.
Chatbot Integration
Chatbots are the new century advanced help or support for the users. The users don’t have to wait for a support executive and can get resolved the query from a chatbot. The AI-built chatbot has the ability to resolve the common queries of the users instantly.
CRM Integration
Integration of a CRM in your mobile app will help you in running the business in the long run. A CRM helps you manage the relations with your existing or new customers and will help in serving different business needs such as strategic needs, operational needs, and analytical needs.
Loyalty Programs
Loyalty Programs keeps your customer engaged and keep coming back on your app. Offering high value to loyal customers will make them your regular patrons and they will not choose your competitors over your app.

Tech Stack Required For EV Charging Mobile App

IoT and blockchain for ev charging stations

Function Technology
Push Notifications Twilio, Push.io, Amazon SNS, Urban Airship, Firebase Cloud Messaging
MS, Voice and Phone Verification Nexmo, Twilio
Payments Braintree & PayPal, Stripe, EWallets
Database MongoDB, Hbase, Cassandra, Postgress, Mail Chimp Integration, MySQL, and Redis
Cloud Environment AWS, Google, Azure, AWS, and VULTR
Real-time Analytics Hadoop, Spark, BigData, Apache Flink, Cisco, IBM
Find user Location Core Location Framework, Google Places API, Google Maps
Server: NGINX
Framework Laravel

How Much Does It Cost To Develop An EV Station Finder App?

To determine the cost of the EV Station Finder app development, we have to first analyze your requirements and what features and functionalities you require. The cost of the app majorly depends on the region of the mobile app development company. For e.g. in North America, the hourly rate $150/hour while in South America the hourly cost is $130/hour. If you hire a company from India then the average cost per hour is $35. The developers here are highly efficient with very reasonable rates.

Why Choose Us?

At Emizentech, the best mobile application development company in India, we are having expertise in developing mobile apps from scratch for both Android & iOS. Our mobile app developers are highly experienced in React Native as well as Flutter and can develop highly user interactive & captivating apps. Let us know your requirements.

Avatar photo
Author

CTO at Emizentech and a member of the Forbes technology council, Amit Samsukha, is acknowledged by the Indian tech world as an innovator and community builder. He has a well-established vocation with 12+ years of progressive experience in the technology industry. He directs all product initiatives, worldwide sales and marketing, and business enablement. He has spearheaded the journey in the e-commerce landscape for various businesses in India and the U.S.