Discussion
I Pick my first EV up next week and have entered in to the minefield of all the different route planners, charging apps and charging providers.
Are there any essential apps that people recommend? Particularly route planners?
What do people generally do about charging providers as they require their own apps and payment methods I believe? Am I correct that some will just take a contactless card payment (Eg. InstaVolt), whereas others require their specific app to charge there?
Many thanks!
Are there any essential apps that people recommend? Particularly route planners?
What do people generally do about charging providers as they require their own apps and payment methods I believe? Am I correct that some will just take a contactless card payment (Eg. InstaVolt), whereas others require their specific app to charge there?
Many thanks!
Diderot said:
Zap Map and A Better Route Planner.
I also have apps for Shell Recharge, Instavolt, BP Pulse, Osprey, and Plug Surfing.
The rapids seem to be contactless now, but to be honest I don’t charge away from home very often (did last weekend and will again this weekend though).
Thank you.I also have apps for Shell Recharge, Instavolt, BP Pulse, Osprey, and Plug Surfing.
The rapids seem to be contactless now, but to be honest I don’t charge away from home very often (did last weekend and will again this weekend though).
My main concern is the payment method. I'll be driving it back from collecting it and will need to charge on the way home. so would prefer to be prepared.
Diderot said:
Zap Map and A Better Route Planner.
I also have apps for Shell Recharge, Instavolt, BP Pulse, Osprey, and Plug Surfing.
The rapids seem to be contactless now, but to be honest I don’t charge away from home very often (did last weekend and will again this weekend though).
Thanks, I am also new to this and didn't know about a better route planner. First impression is a better interface than Zapmap.I also have apps for Shell Recharge, Instavolt, BP Pulse, Osprey, and Plug Surfing.
The rapids seem to be contactless now, but to be honest I don’t charge away from home very often (did last weekend and will again this weekend though).
T_S_M said:
Thank you.
My main concern is the payment method. I'll be driving it back from collecting it and will need to charge on the way home. so would prefer to be prepared.
Most chargers allow contactless payment with a credit/debit card. Get ZapMap, plan whereabouts you will need to charge and look for a rapid charger in the area. Good networks are Osprey, Instavolt, Gridserve, MFG. Avoid BP if you canMy main concern is the payment method. I'll be driving it back from collecting it and will need to charge on the way home. so would prefer to be prepared.
If you're getting a Tesla, the car works out where to charge and for how long.
gmaz said:
Most chargers allow contactless payment with a credit/debit card. Get ZapMap, plan whereabouts you will need to charge and look for a rapid charger in the area. Good networks are Osprey, Instavolt, Gridserve, MFG. Avoid BP if you can
If you're getting a Tesla, the car works out where to charge and for how long.
I've just had a play with ZapMap and it seems very intuitive and easy so far! If you're getting a Tesla, the car works out where to charge and for how long.
Do you need to have the app for each of the suppliers ( Osprey, Instavolt, Gridserve, MFG) to use their chargers? Or can you just rock-up, plug in and tap your contactless card?
It's an Audi EV I'm picking up so not sure if it has that functionality?
T_S_M said:
gmaz said:
Most chargers allow contactless payment with a credit/debit card. Get ZapMap, plan whereabouts you will need to charge and look for a rapid charger in the area. Good networks are Osprey, Instavolt, Gridserve, MFG. Avoid BP if you can
If you're getting a Tesla, the car works out where to charge and for how long.
I've just had a play with ZapMap and it seems very intuitive and easy so far! If you're getting a Tesla, the car works out where to charge and for how long.
Do you need to have the app for each of the suppliers ( Osprey, Instavolt, Gridserve, MFG) to use their chargers? Or can you just rock-up, plug in and tap your contactless card?
It's an Audi EV I'm picking up so not sure if it has that functionality?
Octopus Electroverse card / account well worth having. Free and acts as a charger locator and payment method. It doesn’t have absolutely everything - Gridserve and chargeplace Scotland aren’t included (I have a Paua card for those two but have to pay for that) but lots are
I also like the WattsUp app as it shows the chargers using network logo. Zap map annoys me by having to drill down every time to see what network a charger is. It works in CarPlay and you can get it to navigate you to thenneaest charger
I have never found the a better route planner to work well but that may just be me
I also like the WattsUp app as it shows the chargers using network logo. Zap map annoys me by having to drill down every time to see what network a charger is. It works in CarPlay and you can get it to navigate you to thenneaest charger
I have never found the a better route planner to work well but that may just be me
oop north said:
Octopus Electroverse card / account well worth having. Free and acts as a charger locator and payment method. It doesn’t have absolutely everything - Gridserve and chargeplace Scotland aren’t included (I have a Paua card for those two but have to pay for that) but lots are
I also like the WattsUp app as it shows the chargers using network logo. Zap map annoys me by having to drill down every time to see what network a charger is. It works in CarPlay and you can get it to navigate you to thenneaest charger
I have never found the a better route planner to work well but that may just be me
I have the electroverse card/app too and it's basically solved 95% of charging faff. I can't remember the last time that I found a decent public charger that wouldn't accept the electroverse car and/or any contactless payment card. It's basically bought an end to faffing about with apps for me, and with the added bonus of charging direct to my home electricity account without having to buy credit for different chargers etc..I also like the WattsUp app as it shows the chargers using network logo. Zap map annoys me by having to drill down every time to see what network a charger is. It works in CarPlay and you can get it to navigate you to thenneaest charger
I have never found the a better route planner to work well but that may just be me
Oh, and often I see there are discounted rates for using the card, which is nice given the whole scheme is free!
The other day I used a 7kw charger at a hotel, it was previously dedicated app only, it didn't even have a RFID reader so I couldn't tap my eletroverse card, but they had managed to join the scheme anyway so I was able to start the charge via the elctroverse app instead of downloading the dedicated charger app. It felt like finally there was real progress due to it now being possible to get older, basic chargers to play ball with a scheme that didn't even exist when they were designed.
tr3a said:
I don't want to be smug, but this is one of the main reasons why I got a Tesla. The car takes care of everything, except paying for destination charging, for which I have a card.
Don't pretty much all EV's do all the same route planning incl charging stop offs now?My last two certainly have.
The above is really good advice in terms of the apps. I've downloaded them all.
That said, in the 3 years I've had the car, I've barely ever used them, a few times initially for the novelty, but I could just uninstall and do with out. The car knows where chargers are, and on the rare occurrence I need one, it'll direct me there. The rest of the time I charge at home, and my journeys are easily within it's range.
That said, in the 3 years I've had the car, I've barely ever used them, a few times initially for the novelty, but I could just uninstall and do with out. The car knows where chargers are, and on the rare occurrence I need one, it'll direct me there. The rest of the time I charge at home, and my journeys are easily within it's range.
Truckosaurus said:
Now then EV comrades,
Is there any other apps or maps that allow filtering/searching on price other than the paid for ZapMap Premium?
a lot of people recommend electro verse which supports 1.3 mill chargers across the EU and gives you a free contactless card Is there any other apps or maps that allow filtering/searching on price other than the paid for ZapMap Premium?
https://electroverse.com/
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