General Motors Updates its Mobile App to Make EV Charging Easier for Customers

author: FutureCar Staff    

The fully-electric Chevy Bolt is one of many electric vehicles GM plans to launch in the next five years.

Most carmakers now have a smartphone app so drivers can get info on their vehicle remotely. Using an app connected to a vehicle, drivers can check the fuel level, turn on the air conditioning, check the oil condition, or even check the tire pressure. 

Now drivers of the fully-electric Chevy Bolt now get access to a little extra, mainly to assist with charging and help to reduce the "range anxiety" of wondering if their electric vehicle will make it to their destination without running out of charge.

GM has made enhancements to its "Energy Assist" feature in the "myChevrolet" mobile app so electric vehicle drivers can find the nearest EV charging station and get real time charging station information.

Energy Assist was first available for customers in 2017. It enables Bolt EV owners to plan and manage their routes more effectively, locate nearby charging stations, monitor their route and receive real-time alerts if their range projections change dramatically. 

Energy Assist is also integrated with data from the vehicle, which enables intelligent planning and precise charge time predictions, so drivers know when their vehicle is fully charged and how long it might take by factoring in real time data from the vehicle.

"We're providing EV owners with the tools to easily find available public charging stations," said Rick Spina, GM vice president AV/EV commercialization. "The enhancements to Energy Assist offer Chevrolet Bolt EV owners a holistic charging experience while they're on the go – whether traveling near home or on a cross-country road trip."

The new Energy Assist enhancements include, Dynamic Data Integration, which displays data from popular public charging networks including EVgo and ChargePoint.

Current Bolt EV drivers can also check get real-time data from the EV charging locations, such as how many chargers are available. GM plans to integrate data from additional charging providers throughout 2020, which will include EV Connect continuing to enhance the customer experience.

The Energy Assist feature of the myChevrolet mobile app provides access to a network of public charging stations and real-time station data.

Owners can now link their EVgo account to activate and pay for charging sessions right from the myChevrolet mobile app, eliminating the need to switch to another app for payment. All of the eligible charging stations are noted within the myChevrolet mobile app and new ones will show up as GM adds them throughout the year. 

EV owners can now view more than 40,000 charging stations in North America, with access to 30% more DC Fast Chargers compared to just a year ago. The DC fast chargers can charge an EV to around 80% in 20 minutes or less, as long as the vehicle is capable of receiving the higher charging rate.

GM is also harnessing the power of crowdsourcing. The automaker will allow customers to provide feedback on the charging stations right from the myChevrolet app, giving other customers helpful reviews. This feature will rely on Bolt EV owners to share insights about charging stations by providing a star rating and leaving helpful comments about the station.

Customers who purchase a new Bolt EVs have access to the Energy Assist features for the first five years of ownership for free, giving EV drivers a better experience with their electric vehicles. Energy Assist is available for Bolt EV owners in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The new features are part of GM's commitment to a zero-emissions future. GM is planning to introduce over 20 new electric models over the next five years and the company is already working to reach its goal/

GM announced that its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant will be GM's first plant 100 percent devoted to electric vehicles, and will build the new GMC Hummer EV announced during this year's Super Bowl. The fully-electric Hummer will be available in the second half of 2021.

In 2019, GM announced a collaboration with South Korean battery maker LG Chem to mass produce battery cells for the company's future battery-electric vehicles.

The myChevrolet app is available for Apple and Android devices. 

FutureCar Staff