[DumfriesDik]

Having been a long time member of this forum as I assumed VW could build cars in a timely manner, HA, and I have read a fair bit on apps vs rfid over the months and seen trends come and go.

Well, VW say that my car is being build now which is nice. BUT what apps do I need for the occasional trip away from home? Which will be only a few times a year as I'm retired and have home charging. I don't mind paying full whack as it will be a rare thing. I just need it to be reliable and relatively quick.

I already have a CPS card! They must think I am a crank. Are there any other apps or cards I really should get to make the transition easy for myself?? Are chargers now just contactless payment anyway??

I remain keen as mustard for a BEV.

 

[Harry6]

Hi, start off with Zap-map to see where the charge points are.
I have loads app but only use a few favourites like Instavolt, Bonnet, as it cover a number of networks, and PodPoint.
As long as the signal is good then that fine but if not find a charge point that takes a CC which you can filter on Zap-map.

 

[Janso]

You don't necessarily need the CPO apps to use the chargers (though some smaller networks you 100% do) but you'll work out which networks you like best and typically use their apps to check availability. Some give loyalty points like InstaVolt if you use their app but I think you have to spend a fair bit to get anything worthwhile.

ZapMap is great for finding points along your route or where you are/going to be, ABRP is also good for plotting course especially if you then use ZapMap to look at the user feedback of the suggested stops.

Honestly if you don't venture beyond the range of the car very often at all, you only really need ZapMap and perhaps ABRP.

 

[TomH]

We are also retired so match your use case. Had our ID3 for over two years and managed fine on rapid chargers using just a credit card.

Destination chargers can be more difficult. We booked to stay in a brand new hotel with 14 chargers in the basement and no credit card facility. Based on the likely reception problems I sent for their card which worked fine. Any amount of apps don't solve that problem.

Planning is fun and very necessary!

 

[Janso]

Planning is fun and very necessary!

Agree with this, I'm probably a saddo but I really enjoy planning out my stops.

If you tend to do the same trips over and over you'll figure out where best to stop along the way and you'll be able to do it all minimal planning, especially if you already have a backup in mind.

 

[CW2]

Apps - generally only for low-power 'grazing' type charging (e.g. PodPoint), but then whatever you need for whatever you're using (i.e. far too many).

Fast/Rapids - apart from Tesla and CPS (if you're in Scotland) then technically no apps. An RFID associated with an app, yes. So CPS (for Scotland), Instavolt, Octopus Electoverse. Tesla, only as a standby for the 16 available to non-Tesla.

RFID card only because contactless can be poor - usually failure to authenticate, and also if you don't like pre-auths (i.e. money reserved for payment, but not gone. It's still in your account.)

It all depends where you drive and need to charge. Where I need to charge there's usually no signal for any app, so despise them with a vengeance, and then find I need yet another app at some hotel, car park or street charger.

 

[DSLRed]

Depends on the type of charging you do. For destination chargers, because the amounts involved are low even for decent length stays, it is almost unheard of for them to use contactless and you will need to use their app. Thing is, it's impossible to give you a definite list because you'll encounter one on your next trip for which you don't yet have the app. But Podpoint and VendElectric (Rolec) are common ones.

For rapid chargers, most of the good ones take contactless, so it depends on your preference. I prefer to just pay contactless, but you just have to be careful to have a backup if it refuses to authenticate, as contactless will sometimes do because you have reached your limit and need a pin transaction, which you obviously can't do on a rapid because there is no keypad. So it just refuses. My backup is just more contactless as I have cards for 3 bank accounts. But the backup could be to use the CPOs app or RFID card. To me, it's all just faff though. Having an RFID from one of the many aggregators may be useful, as they can be used at many CPOs (eg. Octopus Electoverse or whatever their name is now, or ZapPay etc). But if you are not careful, you can get over enthused about collecting cards like I did and get a myriad of cards from different operators, all of which have never been used in 3 years of EV driving. I have them in a separate wallet in the car and it is gathering dust.

 

[GarryL]

I have lots of apps, but mostly ‘just in case‘.

The top 3 I actually use are:
1. Zap-Map, to locate and see current availability
2. PodPoint, as they need an app, there are lots of them at Tescos, and they are cheap
3. BP, as there are lots of them, and sometimes the app works better than the touchscreen

I will add CPS to the list when I venture north of the border.

As a bonus: ensure you add a card or two to Apple/GooglePay, to avoid problems with PIN entry.

 

[Janso]

I have lots of apps, but mostly ‘just in case‘.

The top 3 I actually use are:
1. Zap-Map, to locate and see current availability
2. PodPoint, as they need an app, there are lots of them at Tescos, and they are cheap
3. BP, as there are lots of them, and sometimes the app works better than the touchscreen

I will add CPS to the list when I venture north of the border.

As a bonus: ensure you add a card or two to Apple/GooglePay, to avoid problems with PIN entry.

Definitely get the CPS card, had nothing but trouble with the app in and around Glasgow and gave up in the end.

 

[Bengeo]

You can use WeCharge in the WeConnectID app to get 60p on a lot of DC chargers. That is on the free tier. You can also get a RFID card from them. That includes Osprey, Fastned, Shell etc. Ionity is 69p through them.

 

[DumfriesDik]

Thanks everyone.

I enjoy planning journeys and have had a dig around Zap Map. It sounds like things have moved in a bit which is great.

We have friends who live near Lincoln, they could could be our first ‘long’ distance trip of around 450 miles return. Doesn’t seem that for for an ID3 58 does it?!

 

[electric_dreams]

To me, it's all just faff though. Having an RFID from one of the many aggregators may be useful, as they can be used at many CPOs (eg. Octopus Electoverse or whatever their name is now, or ZapPay etc). But if you are not careful, you can get over enthused about collecting cards like I did and get a myriad of cards from different operators, all of which have never been used in 3 years of EV driving. I have them in a separate wallet in the car and it is gathering dust.

Yeah, I have quite a few cards and apps. The ones I use are:
RFID
Octopus Electroverse
Swarco
Instavolt
EV-Dot (registered own RFID)

Apps
BP Pulse (horribly unreliable, but somebody recently alerted me to the fact Elli roam on then, so I have an Elli RFID to try out next time - might replace this app)
Pod-Point
Tesla

 

[Gt6k]

The app that works the charger you are stood in front of

 

[Janso]

Because every charger is famously in a position where you can immediately download it if you do not have the app.

 

[TomH]

Because every charger is famously in a position where you can immediately download it if you do not have the app.

Oh yeah?😂

 

[Janso]

Oh yeah?😂

Yeah that was kind of my point.

 

[Stinsy]

You really don’t NEED any apps or RIFID cards. Roll up, plug in, tap your credit/debit card, use the toilet/buy a coffee, unplug, drive off.

I do have the Octopus and Ionity cards but I’ve never used them. I have the pod point app from when the Tesco chargers were free and I could get 30 miles of electric while I got my hair cut at the barbers.

If you don’t have home charging then it is worth signing up to the app of the provider you use most or if you need receipts for work you need the app. But otherwise, I’m happy to report that we’re in a “post app” world where charging is concerned.

 

[DumfriesDik]

I’m happy to report that we’re in a “post app” world where charging is concerned.

I wondered if the public charging for journeys was like that now.

 

[Ski Tron]

VW WeCharge app and card is all you need. It’s actually run by a company called Elli and I have the Audi version. Expect to get the top version free for your first year, which gives lower prices at many public chargers. The eligible chargers will show on your car Sat Nav and phone app. After year 1 you can downgrade to the free version and just pay the public rates.

also helpful are zap map, which I find great for finding chargers near me or my destination. And ABRP ( A better route planner) which is great for planning when and where to stop to charge on a journey.

if you want a plan B for peace of mind then the Octopus Electroverse card and app is also excellent for starting chargers. But as most take bank cards, it isn’t really necessary.

 

[VeryFatbloke]

Do I really need all of these apps?