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Electrify America Charging Network Upgrades to Apple CarPlay and Android AutoElectrify America Charging Network Upgrades to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Drivers can now employ the charging network's app directly on-screen in their cars using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

October 5, 2021

2 Min Read
ElectrifyAmerica car play.png
Electrify America

The Electrify America EV charging network has announced the support of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which will allow drivers to use the company’s mobile app through their vehicle’s infotainment system rather than only on their mobile device.

This will let drivers see crucial network information such as the locations of charging stations directly on their car’s screen while they drive.

The support will work the same for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the mobile app was recently redesigned with this usage in mind to improve functionality.

The apps main features include:

  • Locate a Charger: Drivers can easily navigate to charging stations while on the go. Electrify America’s nationwide network allows users to plan out everything from a grocery store run to a cross-country trip – showing how many charging stations are nearby, how many of each type of chargers are at the station and which chargers are currently available.

  • Remote Start and Stop: Drivers can initiate or end a charge session through the vehicle infotainment screen.

  • View Plan Details: Access details of charging plans, including pricing and any free charging which may be included with the purchase of your vehicle.

“We are really excited to be launching Auto and CarPlay as part of our app,” Electrify America manager of infrastructure planning, Micheal Buff told Design News. “The experience with our app has worked really well for our drivers,” he said. “It has made the charging experience really seamless.”

Related:Fermata’s Two-Way V2G EV Charger Project Confirms Load-Balancing Benefits

But there is really more to it than simply mirroring the mobile app on the car’s display screen. That’s because of the app’s integration with other services on the driver’s phone, Buff explained. In the future, that could even include support for voice commands.

“With something like navigation you want to be able to say ‘Where’s the closest charging station?’” Buff said. “It then links to your favorite navigation provider for the directions.”

This connection with the car provides the potential in the future to add features to the app, as the phone can gather data from the car while it is connected to help keep drivers informed. We think there is a lot of potential once you have charging in the car. “You can use that information coming off of the car to provide information to the driver,” Buff said, without providing any hints of Electrify America’s plans for the mobile app.

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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