These 9 apps make jaunts an experience

Just drive to the gas station around the corner and off to the gas pump? This is no longer so easy for e-car drivers. Apps help EV owners with these and a few other challenges. We have selected nine practical applications for your smartphone.

Anyone who dares to switch to an e-car can open up the unfamiliar world of e-mobility with the help of apps. In line with the ramp-up of electromobility and the ever faster pace at which manufacturers are constantly presenting new e-cars, there is also a lot going on in Apple’s app stores and the Google Play Store. We got the overview and some Picked out applications for your smartphone that will make your life as an e-car driver easier.

In any case, at least that belongs App of your own charging provider on your smartphone, whether independently or from the manufacturer of your e-car. Because Plug&Charge is becoming more and more common, but if you don’t currently own a Tesla, you often have to use apps to start the charging process and pay for charging. As an e-car driver, you should install these apps on your smartphone:

EnBW mobility+

The app from Energie Baden-Württemberg (EnBW) is almost a classic. You can use it to recharge your batteries at the charging stations of what is currently Germany’s largest retailer. There are over 30,000 charging points in Germany, and more and more European countries are also being covered, so that over 200,000 charging points getting together.

You can look for nearby charging stations and deposit your charging card. It is now also possible, if your charging plan allows it, to activate Plug&Charge. You no longer need to start the charging process manually via the app.

Nice bonus: Even before you make the switch, you can Simulate driving an electric car. Simply understand routes that you have regularly driven by car, and the app will tell you which Stromer could be a good fit for you.

A Better Route Planner (ABRP)

We’ll get to Google Maps below, but “A Better Routeplanner” (ABRP) is practically Google Maps for electric car drivers. The app works across Europe and allows a Precise route planning, including loading stops and the time it takes to do it. In contrast to some route planners from the past or the official Autobahn app, you also get live navigation here, as you are used to from Google.

Charging cards are currently also being implemented at ABRP in a beta phase. As a result, the early favorite of many e-car drivers is increasingly becoming a Full-service provider among the e-car apps.

&batch

&Charge is a small Insider tip for bargain hunters among you: Two functions allow you to save money at the same time. By making purchases online, you can collect kilometers like points from other providers. These kilometers are worth cash at the next charging station. There you can top up cheaper with the &Charge kilometers. Many large online shops are participating, including Otto and eBay. The only catch: The number of charging partners who accept the kilometers is manageable.

You can also use the &Charge network to charge your rent your own wallbox to e-car driverswho don’t have any themselves. You can still make a little money this way. Of course, this also works the other way around. If you don’t have a wall box yourself, you might be able to find someone in the neighborhood who will also release the wall box to other drivers via an app. The bigger the community gets, the more exciting the possibilities are here.

charging fox

The Ladefuchs is particularly useful if you are just thinking about buying an e-car. The developers have summarized many charging tariffs for electric cars here and state that which charging card costs how much at which charging point operator. In the jungle of tariffs, this is a real plus because of the clarity. However, the data from Ladefuchs is based on that of another app from our list. The advantage lies only in the clearer presentation.

charge price

And that’s it: The Ladefuchs data comes from Chargeprice. It probably offers the most detailed cost comparison for e-car drivers. You can find out where the charging stations are and whether you can find the right connections for your e-car there – worldwide. Also free public charging stations can be filtered out.

At chargeable charging points you can plan your costs with Chargeprice. The app calculates on request exactly how much a load costs you, for example if you want to charge your ID.3 from VW (capacity 45 kW) with the ADAC tariff e-Charge from 18 percent to 85 percent. Sounds complicated, but it’s not a problem for Chargeprice.

However, the depth of the functions and the detailed price comparison have their price: Chargeprice is almost overcrowded for everyday use and is therefore confusing.

Google Maps

Google Maps is essential for many drivers whether combustion engine or electric drive. In addition, many other providers use the data from Google for their navigation. So you probably use the application anyway, even if you never activate Google services yourself.

This year, Google Maps will also be given an exciting additional function: if you want, you can let Google guide you along a route where consumption is minimal. Whether you just want to drive sparingly or cut costs as much as possible, e-car and combustion engine drivers will benefit.

Park Now

Park Now is also a classic car app that can be of help not only to e-car drivers. In many cases, especially in big cities, you can Pull parking ticket via app instead of feeding the parking meter. After all, in times of contactless payment, not everyone has small change with them at all times.

ADAC

The ADAC does not have an app for e-car drivers. However, the well-known applications of the automobile club are not to be scoffed at, even with electric drives. Especially the Breakdown assistance and ADAC trips should not be missing on any frequent driver smartphone, even if you are traveling with a petrol or diesel engine. You never know when you’ll need them.

There is a lot to be said for switching to an e-car quickly:

LidlPlus

If you like to charge while shopping, you should also install the apps from supermarkets or retailers. For charging processes at public Lidl charging stations, for example, the The Lidl Plus app is required to supply the e-car with fresh electricity.

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