Speak EV - Electric Car Forums banner

Introducing Bonnet: EV Charging Made Easy

85K views 457 replies 74 participants last post by  Xtopher  
#1 · (Edited)
We’re Bonnet - a London based startup focused on making EV charging simpler and more affordable for everyone.

An EV charging app may not sound that groundbreaking to you, but trust us, we’re different. We combine the 20+ different charging apps into one, making the world a greener place and saving you time and money. We already have 85,000+ chargers across the UK & Europe.

Bonnet users can use our app at any partner charging point - this means no more RFID cards and no need to download a new app every time you use a new charge point.

Our membership option, Bonnet Boosts, offers users 10% off (£2/month) or 15% off (£8/month) all chargers (inc Ionity, Osprey, Allego, FastNed & GeniePoint). That's guaranteed savings across all of your favourite charging networks!

You can find out how much your monthly and annual savings come to here.

To top it off, if you run into any issues we have daily 8AM-8PM live support via the in-app chat and live information on all chargers, which is cross checked with suppliers and other sources.

Some of the CPOs we work with are:
  • Ionity
  • Source London
  • Total Energies
  • Alfa Power
  • Allego
  • ESB
  • FastNed
  • Franklin Energy
  • Plug-N-Go
  • Shell Recharge (Allego)
  • Char.gy
  • EVBox
  • Osprey
  • Connected Kerb
  • GeniePoint
  • Ladenetz

To find out more about us, check out joinbonnet.com or search for us on the usual social channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and offers.

We’re confident you’ll love Bonnet as much as we do. Let us know in this thread your thoughts and if there are any improvements you would like to see as we grow!
 
#2 ·
You might want to ask your media / legal people to check the statement above
Bonnet users can use our app at any charging point - this means no more RFID cards and no need to download a new app every time you use a new charge point.

I looked a the https://www.joinbonnet.com/coverage
Instavolt ? No
PodPoints ? No
EV Megahubs like Braintree , Rugby and Putney ? No

If you want people to move over from ZapMap pay, your coverage needs to be bigger
(I don't use zap-map pay but I guessing that is your market ? )
 
#3 ·
I also looked at the list of current partners and recognised very few ! I tried to look at the 'coming soon' link but nothing happened.

I thought I remembered someone posting a cartoon about a new 'all-purpose' app simply increasing the number of apps needed but afraid I couldn't find it.
 
#12 ·
#15 ·
Simply mentioning yet another app is a turn off. Apps don't work when the mobile network is down, unavailable, poor signal, phone battery is flat, don't have a smartphone etc., at least rfid cards do. It's even possible to pay by card these days.
 
#18 ·
can't remember a worse launch for a new product / service than this. what is the benefit of this app over a credit card or std RFID card?

in addition to the scathing criticism above I can add:

1) the specification of many of the charge points you claim your card works at is simply wrong. in some cases which I'm familiar with, your map states there is only 1 connector but there are, in fact, several.

2) the coverage is poor (at least in the area that I'm familiar with - Newcastle) and many of the accessible charge points are described as 1 connector @ 7 kW. I'd say that someone on a long journey who may need to recharge en-route would be unlikely to want to rely on a single (or even multiple) 7kW chargers. There's lots of good charge points in Newcastle area which are not accessible with your app but work perfectly well with a CC.

It's not even about cost when you're running low - you simply want a charge, and whilst your 25p kWh rate is reasonable I'm struggling to see what sort of driver would want to contractually agree to buy 200 kWh / month from you?
 
#19 ·
Hi @sometime , thank you for your feedback. Here are some comments, regarding your two points.

1) Would you mind specifying the charge point you are talking about? We'll make sure that our team corrects that information.
2) As a small startup we are constantly looking to expand our coverage. We will be announcing some interesting updates about it soon :)

Best,
 
#20 · (Edited)
Hi @sometime , thank you for your feedback. Here are some comments, regarding your two points.

1) Would you mind specifying the charge point you are talking about? We'll make sure that our team corrects that information.
2) As a small startup we are constantly looking to expand our coverage. We will be announcing some interesting updates about it soon :)

Best,
your map states that all the Fastned charge points in North East have only 1 connector yet in reality they have more than 1. Whitley Bay Fastned for example has 2 stations so 2 cars can be charged simultaneously on either DC or AC. In fact, the Whitley Bay Fastned has 4 parking bays and each station can simultaneously support AC and DC charging which - depending upon the vehicles concerned - could be described as 4 connectors (I believe this is the same for other Fastned places too).

How come you didn't know this if you have a commercial arrangement with them?
 
#25 ·
Hi @sometime thanks for your message.

You can find the breakdown of our pricing model on our website, but just to clarify depending on your package, you would pay:

As a Pay as you go user: £0.35 per kWh
As a monthly refiller (subscriber):
  • £15 for 50 kWh per month, then £0.30 per additional kWh
  • £35 for 150 kWh per month, then £0.29 per additional kWh
  • £50 for 200 kWh per month, then £0.25 per additional kWh
Note: The same pricing applies to any charger on the Bonnet app (including rapid or fast chargers).

Last but not least, I also wanted to mention that you can use the code SPEAKEV to try any of our monthly refill packages for free during the first month.

Best,
 
#30 ·
Hi @sometime thanks for your message.

You can find the breakdown of our pricing model on our website, but just to clarify depending on your package, you would pay:

As a Pay as you go user: £0.35 per kWh
As a monthly refiller (subscriber):
  • £15 for 50 kWh per month, then £0.30 per additional kWh
  • £35 for 150 kWh per month, then £0.29 per additional kWh
  • £50 for 200 kWh per month, then £0.25 per additional kWh
Note: The same pricing applies to any charger on the Bonnet app (including rapid or fast chargers).

Last but not least, I also wanted to mention that you can use the code SPEAKEV to try any of our monthly refill packages for free during the first month.

Best,
Cant see your VAT number on your website, is it on your invoices?
 
#26 · (Edited)
With what looks like more Osprey units around, with Shell on books , and ESB taking over Brum ( old polar spaces). I have decided to join. My referrers code RG3WE for £15 each off a refill plan ( they start at £15pm. .. no ongoing commitments)
 
#27 ·
Download the app last night and used it today with the £15.00 credit for 50 kWh. I used it with Osprey and it was very easy to use.
Opened the app, selected the charger and requested a charge, no waving my phone or card at the charger screen it just worked. Used 52 kWh of electricity, total cost £0.52p

Works for me at £0.30p per kWh but understand that it may not be for all depending on the charging networks you frequent.
 
#38 ·
Download the app last night and used it today with the £15.00 credit for 50 kWh. I used it with Osprey and it was very easy to use.
Opened the app, selected the charger and requested a charge, no waving my phone or card at the charger screen it just worked. Used 52 kWh of electricity, total cost £0.52p

Works for me at £0.30p per kWh but understand that it may not be for all depending on the charging networks you frequent.
It's great to hear you're enjoying Bonnet! :)
 
#28 ·
impressed… contacted them about a charger on the map that I jnew did not exist ( assume they get feed from the providers). And one that had swapped providers ( so now included). Responded very quickly

My First ( test) charge via Bonnet today,… Pulled into an osprey charger at an empty pub car park , guy leaving said he couldn’t get the charger to work ( Griffin card ?) but the Bonnet App connected quickly and the unit pumped out at 49kwph . Have a few long trips in next few months hopefully all with be as simple
 
#37 ·
We’re Bonnet - a London based startup focused on making EV charging easier, faster and more affordable for everyone.

An EV charging app may not sound that groundbreaking to you, but trust us, we’re different. We combine the 17+ different charging apps into one, making the world a greener place and saving you time and money. We already have 2500+ chargers in the UK and 55000+ in Europe - by the beginning of 2022 we are aiming to have more than 70% UK coverage (around 17000 chargers). After that? World EV Charging domination. (We’re kidding...kind of.)

Bonnet users can use our app at any charging point - this means no more RFID cards and no need to download a new app every time you use a new charge point.

In the UK we work with companies like ESB, Char.gy and Shell, offering competitive prices in both a Pay As You Go option and a subscription based option, which you can cancel at any time. So if your Audi e-tron needs a rapid charge, you’ll pay as little as 25p/kWh - no matter what type of charger or company you use.

To top it off, if you run into any issues we have live support via the in-app chat and live information on all chargers, which is cross checked with suppliers and other sources before being published.

Some of the CPOs we work with are:
  • Alfa Power
  • Allego
  • ESB
  • Fastned
  • Franklin Energy
  • Plug-N-Go
  • Shell Recharge
  • Char.gy
  • EVBox
  • Osprey
  • Connected Kerb
Still need convincing that Bonnet is the EV charging app for you? How does 1-month free charge sound? We’re offering SpeakEV members one month free of any of our monthly refilling packages (worth up to £50/200kWh).

All you need to do is download Bonnet from the App Store or Google Play, sign up with the code SPEAKEVBNT and redeem the monthly refill you'd like to try. In the unlikely chance we’re not for you, you can cancel at any time before the renewal date.


To find out more about us, check out joinbonnet.com or search for us on the usual social channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for updates and offers.

We’re confident you’ll love Bonnet as much as we do. Let us know in this thread your thoughts and if there are any improvements you would like to see as we grow!
Where do you publish your terms and conditions?
 
#42 ·
@JoinBonnet I have signed up and used a code for 200kwh free charging which I need to use within 1 month. I have cancelled the refill subscription but my card details remain on file, can you confirm no further charges or monthly subscription costs will be charged?
I am doing this as a test period, if all goes well I will reinstate the refills. Thanks