Essential Apps Every EV Owner Should Have Installed

A new EV requires different day-to-day habits than an internal-combustion car, especially for trip planning and finding chargers. To make the transition easier, the article highlights essential apps that help owners navigate charging networks, manage vehicle data away from home, and reduce uncertainty. It recommends A Better Routeplanner (ABRP), acquired by Rivian in 2023 but still usable as a standalone service, as an alternative to Apple Maps/with support for Android Auto; ABRP plans routes using battery and consumption data and can reroute with live traffic and weather. Free versions include charging maps, live vehicle data, and in-app navigation, while premium costs $5/month for features like additional vehicle support. PlugShare is presented as a community-driven way to check real-world charger reliability and status before travel.