THE leading EV charge point platform Zap-Map has just released the thing for longer journeys: a new smart Route Planner.
If you drive an EV, this is what you’ll need to help plan those key top-up stops.
It’s available now on its Android app; iOS users will have to wait a little longer.
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The planner will suggest up to three suitable rapid chargers within one mile of your route which are closest to the estimated ‘drive range’ for each journey leg.
Alternatively, you can create a more customised route by adjusting charger search criteria, percentage battery charge assumptions and route filters.
Inexperienced EV drivers may wish to have a higher charge buffer when on a longer journey, whilst more seasoned drivers may be comfortable with a low battery charge on arrival. Equally, EV drivers not wanting to see ‘suggested chargers’ can instead view all available chargers (with filters applied) on a particular route.
What’s really handy about the Zap-Map Route Planner is that it bases all of its calculations on estimates of real range and energy efficiency. These are personalised for particular EV models which are selected by users from all available UK models.
Using real-world data, the predicted driving range is reduced for routes with average speed over 50 mph or with significant inclines.
Route Plans can be saved to the user’s account and, when retrieved, the route is updated for current conditions. The latest location status is shown and EV drivers are able to edit the charge stops selected as necessary. During the journey, users are able to view their progress on the Route Plan in real time and link to Google maps for detailed turn-by-turn directions if required.
COO and co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham said:
“We are excited to be releasing the new Zap-Map Route Planner. With over 60,000 Zap-Map users of Zap-Map across our desktop and app platforms each month and the EV parc expanding at a rapid rate, we know that there is a real demand from EV drivers. This smart new Route Planner will enable EV drivers to plan their electric journeys across any charge point network, with the latest status information.”
Ben Lane, CTO added: “The new Route Planner is one of a number of tools developed by Zap-Map to support EV charging in the real-world. With its smart route selection wizard and EV drive range algorithm, the Route Planner has been designed to be easy to use and also to reflect real-world driving conditions. We are already planning v2 which will include additional range factors and notifications to alert drivers en- route in the event of road closures or planned charge stops going offline.”