Best apps for EV owners

Purchasing an Electric Vehicle opens you up to a whole new world and a steep learning curve. As EVs have grown in popularity in recent years, so has the market for products, tech and gear tailor-made to Aussie EV owners.

So let’s take a look at the best smartphone apps for EV owners in Australia.

Most EV owners agree that Plugshare is the best app for finding publicly available charging stations. The colour-coded map allows you to see all the charging stations throughout the country (and the world) and you can filter by Quick charge, Tesla chargers and others. By joining the community, you can also plan trips, leave and read reviews, bookmark your favourite charging points and share tips. Drivers can also list their personal home charging stations if they want to open them up for public use.

At compatible stations, you can even pay for your charge directly through the app. The other handy feature is the check-in tool that allows you to let other users you are charging, or waiting to charge. The only downside - the frequent and annoying pop-up ads.

If you’re planning a longer road trip, or even just a drive somewhere new, give ABRP a try. The free app for both Android and iOS is the easiest way to map out your route and plan your charging stops.

To get started, simply select your car make and model, then input your trip start and endpoints, and any waypoints you plan on stopping at.

Then the app will create a detailed route plan for you, including where to charge up, how long the charge will take based on which charger is available, and how much battery you will have left at the end of the trip. It’s the best way to overcome range anxiety.

Upgrade to the premium version to see real-time charger availability, traffic and weather conditions.

ChargeFox runs their own network of EV charging stations in Australia, with over 1,400 plugs mainly on the east coast. The Chargefox network includes standard AC (22kW), fast (50kW) and ultra-rapid chargers (350kW) and has live data showing what ones are in use. The app will show how your charge is going, so you can relax with a coffee until you’re fully charged. Members of many car clubs receive 20% off ultra-rapid charges, while many car companies have deals with ChargeFox. Audi e-tron owners receive six years' free charging, while Nissan LEAF owners enjoy free charging for the first year, and discounted charging for the next two years.

Some users find the inability to type in a search term ahead of a trip a bit frustrating, and the app won’t show chargers operated by other companies. Just make sure you install the app before leaving home as it can chew up a fair bit of data to download.

If you’re already using Google Maps for directions, finding restaurant recommendations and checking opening hours, you’ll be pleased to know Google Maps is also a handy app for EV drivers.

Simply type in ‘EV Charger’, and you’ll be shown the closest stations to you. You can also set your vehicle make and model so you only see charging stations with plugs that work with your vehicle.

While the listings do include address, model type, and some reviews, they don’t have live availability, and they may not be as up-to-date as the listings in the dedicated EV apps.

Related: Best Australian road trips to do in an EV

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