How to Build an EV Charging Station Finder App?

Quick Summary:

Do you plan to develop an on-demand EV Charging Station Finder App? 

The number of EVs on the road and the demand for accessible and convenient charging infrastructure are increasing. An EV Charging Station Finder App is an essential tool for EV owners, enabling them to locate, access, and navigate nearby charging stations easily.

Building an EV Charging station finder app involves integrating various technologies and data sources to provide real-time information on charging station locations, availability, and compatibility. 

With our years of experience as a leading EV Charging Station Finder app development company, we have compiled this blog to resolve the queries and doubts of startups and entrepreneurs looking to invest in building EV Charging Station Finder apps.

What is an EV Charging Station Finder App?

Electric Vehicles operate on batteries, and thus, they need timely charging. The on-demand EV Charging station finder application makes it convenient for users to find a nearby station sitting anywhere. 

An EV Charging Station Finder App lets users find electric vehicle charging stations. Users can enter a location and find nearby EV Charging stations with the details of their availability.  In addition, they can turn the notifications on for nearby stations so that the app will inform users about a nearby station.

EV charging station apps offer different plugs for different vehicles. So, users can also check if the station is compatible with their electric vehicle. With the on-demand EV Charging station finder app, users don’t have to bother about untimely discharge or travel miles to locate the EV Charging station. They can book a slot for their electric vehicle via the app and, thus, avoid waiting in long queues for their turn. Users can also add charging stations to the app if they find a new one.

Top EV Charging Station Finder Mobile Apps

The EV Charging Station Finder apps have gained massive popularity due to a rise in electric vehicle owners. Here are a few top Electric vehicle station finder apps:

PlugShare

With over a million installs and a 4.6-star rating, the first name in the list of our EV Charging Station Finder apps is PlugShare. The app is hugely preferred by people worldwide for its accuracy. Users can quickly locate an EV Charging station and share their reviews and feedback. The app is available in North America, Europe, and many countries worldwide, with over 400,000 charging stations. Users can find an EV Charging station based on location, network, and type of connection. They can book a charging slot and pay online via the app.

ChargePoint

The ChargePoint app has over 100,00 charging station spots and relies on NFC. Users can initiate the charging process without opening the app. They have to tap their phones against a charging station. In addition, the app shows all the statistics, including:

• How much is the car charged?
• What is the cost of charging?
• How many miles has it gained?

EVgo

The next on our list of the best EV Charging Station Finder apps is EVgo. EVgo has the largest network of EV charging stations in the United States. The app is famous but has lower ratings because of its high cost compared to peers. Users can find charging stations and check their availability in real-time, but it doesn’t show how much the car is charged. 

Chargemap

Over 330,000 electric vehicle owners use France-based Chargemap to locate EV charging stations. The app offers a sophisticated user interface with many filters to make the search easier. Users can find charging stations for a specific location, check their availability in real-time, and share new EV stations on the app.

What are the different types of EV Charging Stations?

An Electric Vehicle Charging Station is similar to a fuel station or petrol pump. Vehicles visit a petrol pump or a fuel station to refill petrol or diesel. Similarly, electric vehicles visit EV charging stations to charge their batteries. 

Some vehicles need petrol, others need diesel, and every electric vehicle has a different charging need. Thus, EV charging stations provide different charging speeds for different charging connectors. Here are the different types of EV 

Charging Stations:

Level 1 Charging stations require a dedicated circuit, while Level 2 stations need users to install home or public charging equipment.

What Is the Need for an EV Charging Stations Finder App?

Electric vehicle stations and an app to locate them conveniently are required to meet different electric vehicle charging needs. 

The time is ripe if you plan to invest in developing an EV Charging Station finder app. It would help if you had the assistance of a top EV Charging Station Finder app development company to pick the relevant features and technology stack for your app. Valuetree can build a custom EV Charging Station finder app with expert developers and the right tech stack.

How Does an App for Finding Electric Vehicle Charging Work?

With EV charging station finder software, users can quickly locate a charging station in a locality based on their charging type and availability.

Register

First, users must register on the EV Charging Station Finder app and create profiles. They can sign up using an email or social credentials. 

Find Stations

Once users register for the app, they can search for a nearby station by enabling their device’s location. They can then use filters like availability, location, and charging type to find the station quickly. 

Location

Users can choose an area where they find the station. Thus, the app will only show EV Charging stations in that area or locality. 

Booking

Once they find a station, they can check the availability of the charging slot and book one for them directly through the app.

Payment

The custom EV Charging Station Finder app allows users to pay online via multiple payment methods.

Business Model for the App for EV Charging Stations

The Global Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Market is expected to exceed its current value of $61.2 billion at a CAGR of around 27.5% from 2020 to 2027.

Electric vehicles offer several advantages, including being environment-friendly, affordable, and high-speed. Thus, giant enterprises are investing in this sector. If you, too, are developing an EV Charging Station app, here are a few ways to monetize your app.

Advertising

You can earn handsome revenue from your custom EV Charging station finder applications with in-app advertisements. Allow companies to market their products on your app via ads, sidebars, displays, or short videos. You can charge them a good commission for running advertisements. 

Subscription

App subscriptions allow users to access advanced features of your application. So, make your app free to install and use the essential features. But to get full access to the application’s advanced features, users can upgrade and purchase a subscription.

What are the different Types of Electric Vehicles?

Electric vehicles have different categories, requiring different types of EV Charging stations. 

• Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
• Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

A Hybrid Electric vehicle (HEV) combines an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) with an electric motor and battery pack. The electric motor helps consume less fuel by switching between the ICE and the electric motor. 

Hybrid vehicles operate very similarly to ICE vehicles; thus, people prefer hybrid vehicles more. 

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles operate similarly to hybrid vehicles, but they have more advanced features than hybrid ones. 

PHEVs have powerful electric motors and larger battery packs. Owners can switch the ICE off and drive a PHEV entirely in electric mode, or they can run the vehicle entirely on fuel if the battery is not charged. 

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Battery electric vehicles, as the name says, are fully electric vehicles that operate entirely on batteries. They do not have an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to switch to fuel mode. They have higher-capacity batteries with kWh outputs and are more expensive than HEVs and PHEVs.

What are the Key Features Of An EV Charging Station Finder App?

Sign Up

Sign-up is a must-feature for the EV charging application as it allows users to access its features. Users can register using an email or their social credentials. After registering, they can create and edit their profile by adding detailed information about their vehicle. 

Search & Filter

Users can enable their location to let the application use their current location and search for EV charging stations nearby. Also, they can enter their location manually and locate EV charging stations in the locality. 

They can filter their search based on their vehicle or charging type. 

List of Charging Stations

The custom EV Charging station finder app shows users the list of charging stations they can explore and compare prices. Users can filter the stations by entering a particular location, price, or charging type.

Slot Booking

Users can book a charging slot for their electric vehicles after checking the availability via the online EV Charging Station Finder app. Thus, users can only stand in short queues. 

In-app Payment

The on-demand EV Charging station finder app allows users to make online payments via modes like net banking, in-app wallets, credit/debit cards, etc. 

Push Notifications

The online EV charging station finder app sends notifications for various activities. When a user books a slot, the app sends a confirmation notification. Users can also set up alerts for nearby stations, so the app will send a notification when a station is nearby. 

History

The history section shows details like previous bookings, bills, battery consumption, etc. So, users can keep track of the power consumed and the costs to manage their budget or check mileage. 

AI Chatbot

The AI-enabled chatbot allows users to connect with customer support in real-time and get answers to their queries immediately. 

Reward Points

Users can collect reward points on the on-demand EV charging station finder apps with regular or frequent usage. They can redeem these reward points to get cash back or discounts on the following charges.

What Are Some Major EV Charging Network Providers?

The major network providers of the EV Charging Stations are:

1. Blink

The Blink network runs 3,275 public Level 2 and Level 3 chargers in the US. Users can use this car charging group’s services without membership, but membership enables users to save money. 

2. Tesla

Elon Musk’s electric vehicle manufacturing company provides a network of 14,081 Superchargers and 1,604 charging stations globally. Tesla charging stations are designed only for users who need a special connector type. 

3. EVGO

EVg0 is one of the largest electric vehicle DC fast charging station networks. The network offers 850 charging stations in more than 60 metropolitan cities and is used by 140 million Americans. The charging stations are compatible with all major electric vehicles. Users can avail themselves of EVgo’s services without membership or joining the membership. 

4. TATA Power

The popular name in India offers charging for electric cars, offices, public spaces, and commercial spaces. Tata Power has stations in nine states in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad. The network offers its application to help users locate the stations easily. 

5. Volta

Volta, a San Francisco-based EV charging network provider, operates over 700 stations across 10 states, demonstrating the growing need for reliable charging solutions. The Volta app enhances the convenience and accessibility of networks like Volta, ensuring EV drivers can always find a charging point when needed.

What are the Steps to Build an EV Charging Station Finder App?

Analyze App Requirements

The first step to developing an EV Charging Station Finder application is to analyze and understand the requirements. If you know the essential requirements, you can explain them well to the developers for the desired results. 

The analysis of essential requirements includes:

• Your App Budget
• Target Audience
• Current Market Trends & Demands

This pre-development analysis offers many benefits, including fewer errors and reworks, enhanced app development speed, and expected results. 

Wireframes and UI/UX Design

After studying the app’s needs, the next step is to design your application. The website designers first create wireframes for your application. Once you approve those wireframes, they will design the interface. An attractive and user-friendly design helps you attract and retain more users for longer. 

Development

Now, the real development begins. The EV Charging station finder app developers pick the right architecture and technology stack to develop the frontend, backend, and APIs. The app has a panel for customers and station owners and an admin panel. 

Testing

Once the app is ready, the QA engineers test its quality. They identify and rectify errors in the code and loopholes in the security or software. The developers perform various tests to ensure the quality and compatibility of the mobile app. The tests include unit testing, functionality testing, performance testing, security testing, etc. They ensure the app is secure, stable, bug-free, and compatible with all devices and platforms. 

Launching

The developers launch the app on app stores once the app passes the quality assurance tests. We also provide complete post-launch support.

What Technology Stack We Use for EV Charging Station App?

Your online EV Charging Station Finder application requires a perfect stack of technologies to make it reliable, high-performing and scalable. The technology stack also affects the app development cost. The backend of your application should be strong and stable to handle growing users and stations. So, let us look at the technology used for an EV charging station finder app.

How Much Does It Cost to Create an EV Charging Stations Finder App?

Developing an EV Charging app ranges between $10,000 and $200,000. The exact cost will depend on the number and complexity of features, third-party integrations, design complexity, and other factors. 

Every project has a different app development need, and thus, the cost varies from project to project. The cost will rise if your application has more complex features and designs. 

However, a leading EV charging station finder app development company can help you find the exact cost. Call us now to book a free consultation or get a free quote.

Conclusion

So, now you know how to build a custom EV Charging Station Finder application. What factors affect the cost, and which are the popular EV Charging Station Finder applications? 

The demand for electric vehicles and charging stations is surging, thus the need for EV charging station finder apps. The expert EV Charging station finder app developers at Valuetree are well-versed in the technologies and the factors required to develop a top-notch application. You can connect with our senior developers for expert consultation. We provide complete development support, proper guidance, and post-launch support.