EV charging apps: your questions answered

With the rise in electric vehicles (EVs) comes questions about how to charge them. EV charging points, both at home and in public, usually require you to have an app on your smart phone. And, these EV charging apps have lots of great features that are made to support you with your charging. So, it’s helpful to know how you can use them to get the most out of your EV.

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In this article, we’re answering some of your common questions about EV charging apps and how you can use them to charge at home and on the go. You’ll also learn more about some of the apps offered through the Scheme to help you with your charging.

The good news is that because the apps are so present in motorists’ daily lives, the technology is also evolving to make things easier. But what are some of drivers’ most common questions about EV charging apps?  

1. Do I need an app to charge an EV?
2. Will all apps work with my EV make and model?
3. Do I need to add my bank details to use public charging apps?
4. Can charging apps show me my charging history?
5. Can multiple users access a charging app?
6. Can I use an app to control when I start and stop charging?
7. Can I use an app to see if a public chargepoint is busy or not working?
8. Can I precondition my EV through an app?
9. How do I find the best public charging apps?

1. Do you need an app to charge an EV?

Home charging: 

If you charge at home, using an app is the best way to get the most out of your money. With a smart home chargepoint, like the one from our partner Ohme, you can make charging even cheaper. This is because you can use the app to charge at home overnight, saving you time and money if you use smart charging.

You can charge at home without an app. But you will not see the extra benefits like tracking your spending and setting up charging remotely.

Public charging:

If you use public charging, you’ll need an app and different companies have different apps. An easy way to get round this is with with Motability Go Charge. This gives you access to more than 45,000 public chargepoints through one charging card and app. This app is available for everyone who leases an electric car with the Scheme. 

2. Will all apps work with my EV make and model?

With any charging app, you’ll likely need to add your car’s make and model so it can give you the right charging information.

Home charging: 

In the Ohme app, you can select the vehicle you’d like to charge. If you cannot see your vehicle model listed, you can add this manually.

Public charging: 

If you cannot get a home chargepoint with the Scheme, you’ll get a bp pulse subscription. This gives you access to the UK’s largest public charging network. 

The bp pulse app gives you information about the charging points, helping you choose the best one before you arrive. You can see the type of chargers available on your route in real time, and the connector type they use.  

3. Do I need to add my bank details to use public charging apps? 

You can link your bank account to most EV charging apps. With apps like Motability Go Charge, adding your bank details means you can pay automatically. This makes public charging a lot easier.

Some public chargepoints will not work unless you add your bank details. If it’s a chargepoint you use often and you have the app, you can set up a direct debit. This can make it a faster process.

Pay-as-you-go charging is also an option, but the cost is usually higher than through an app.

4. Can charging apps show me my charging history?

Many EV charging apps record your energy use over time. While free apps can save you money at first, they might not have other useful features, like tracking your charging history.  

Most paid charging apps offer data that shows this. Looking at this data and understanding the patterns can help you adjust and save money in the long run.

Home charging: 

The Ohme app gives you details about your charging history at home. They’re the only EV charging provider to work with all energy tariffs, keeping the rates low and affordable.

Public charging: 

The Motability Go Charge app shows your charging and payment history in your online account. This should help you track your public charging and spend over time.

5. Can multiple users access a charging app?

If you’re charging at home, only one account can be linked to an Ohme charger at a time. If you want multiple users to access the charger, you can set this up in your account. Then, you can sign into the app on multiple devices with the same email and password.

6. Can I use an app to control when I start and stop charging?

Home charging: 

Your home charging app will give you full control of your charging. You’ll be able to schedule when you want the charge to start and how much charge you want your car to have. You’ll just need to make sure it’s plugged in when you want the charge to start. 

If you want to save money and schedule your charging for later in the evening, you can do this easily through your app too.

Public charging:

Many public charging apps will let you start the charge in the app, once your car is plugged in. You’ll also likely be able to start the charge directly on the chargepoint.

7. Can I use an app to see if a public chargepoint is busy or not working?

Most public charging apps, like Motability Go Charge, give real time updates on charging stations. They can tell you when a chargepoint is busy or if they’re not working. This information can help you quickly find a charging point and avoid waiting times.

8. Can I precondition my EV through an app?

Preconditioning is a feature in your EV that will heat up or cool down the car before you start your journey. Many manufacturer apps will allow you to use their apps to precondition your car. 

It’s a great feature that can help you feel more comfortable. If you charge at home, you can use your app to precondition your car while it’s still plugged in. This way, it will be ready for your trip without using any battery power. 

The easiest way to precondition your car is by using the app. You can also do this from the infotainment screen when you’re inside the car too. 

9. How do I find the best public charging apps?

You can use the Motability Go Charge app or the bp pulse app to find charging points. This can help you choose based on availability and reviews. 

Reading reviews can help you see if a charging point will work for you. In the Motability Go Charge app, you can read reviews from other Scheme customers about how easy it is to use the charging point.