What non-OEM apps do you use and why?
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,904
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From: San Diego, CA
What non-OEM apps do you use and why?
Might be helpful for new owners to get some recommendations on essential apps.
To get the ball rolling:
ABRP - solid charger-aware navigation that can pull SOC and efficiency data etc and can intelligently navigate accordingly. ( real time SOC and efficiency data may require an OBD bluetooth dongle ). Note Rivian just bought ABRP but for now its operating as normal and will probably continue to do so.
PlugShare - solid feedback from owners reporting on charger performance, downtime etc. somewhat like a mini-Waze for charging locations.
Apple Maps EV awareness - already available for some EVs with support for more coming this year. Essentially adds ABRP-like functionality to Apple Maps so the routing is updated based on real time SOC and efficiency data.
EA/ChargePoint/EVGo etc - always good to have these downloaded and ready to go even if you usually use an OEM app (plug and charge is handled by FordPass in my case, and while it works just like Tesla - plug in and it starts automatically - it doesn’t properly support membership rates like EA Pass+ so it’s sometimes helpful to be able to go direct to another app if needed).
To get the ball rolling:
ABRP - solid charger-aware navigation that can pull SOC and efficiency data etc and can intelligently navigate accordingly. ( real time SOC and efficiency data may require an OBD bluetooth dongle ). Note Rivian just bought ABRP but for now its operating as normal and will probably continue to do so.
PlugShare - solid feedback from owners reporting on charger performance, downtime etc. somewhat like a mini-Waze for charging locations.
Apple Maps EV awareness - already available for some EVs with support for more coming this year. Essentially adds ABRP-like functionality to Apple Maps so the routing is updated based on real time SOC and efficiency data.
EA/ChargePoint/EVGo etc - always good to have these downloaded and ready to go even if you usually use an OEM app (plug and charge is handled by FordPass in my case, and while it works just like Tesla - plug in and it starts automatically - it doesn’t properly support membership rates like EA Pass+ so it’s sometimes helpful to be able to go direct to another app if needed).
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: California
I wish I could be helpful in this thread, but unfortunately because we charge our non Teslas at home and only use the Model Y to travel, we use the built in trip planner which has never let us down. But if I were to recommend some apps, it would be the Electrify America app, EVGo/ChargePoint apps, Plug Share, and ABTP (A better trip planner)
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: OC | SoCal
^ pretty much the same for me - all EV charging network apps just in case I need them. Plugshare is quite useful too, to find non-networked public charging stations
Vivaldi browser for when I have to wait
Vivaldi browser for when I have to wait
EV ftw!!!
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Lake Ontario
I wish I could be helpful in this thread, but unfortunately because we charge our non Teslas at home and only use the Model Y to travel, we use the built in trip planner which has never let us down. But if I were to recommend some apps, it would be the Electrify America app, EVGo/ChargePoint apps, Plug Share, and ABTP (A better trip planner)
Similar feedback here. I like to use ABRP when not in the car just to see what a potential trip will be, but once in the car, I don't bother using anything else as the built in planner does the job best. I don't overthink it.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: California
Google maps used to have this function, not sure why they removed it. My brother in law actually doesn't use the built in Google maps, for some reason he likes Waze, which I actually hate. You can also use Waze at the same time to monitor police activity
EV ftw!!!
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Lake Ontario
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Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: CA, Mid OC
I also hate Waze. On two trips, it annoyingly took me off course to avoid traffic only to reroute me back into the traffic. I won’t use it again.
Lexus Champion
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Waze literally makes no sense to me. It once took me off the freeway, had me go the opposite side, exit and then get back on the freeway. Lost 20 minutes. Also it recalculate constantly, and sometimes it will suddenly ask me to make a turn or exit when there is no way I can safely do so. Crashes constantly and once thought I was driving next to the freeway when in fact I was on the freeway
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2010
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From: San Diego, CA
well Waze etc reroutes based on dynamic information so it's entirely plausible that an initial reroute was the right call at that specific time but as traffic evolves the fastest then available route is to go back to the route you were on so Waze will suggest it. I don't know that's necessarily indicative of a problem as much as it is Waze just working as intended.
EV ftw!!!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,972
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From: Lake Ontario
well Waze etc reroutes based on dynamic information so it's entirely plausible that an initial reroute was the right call at that specific time but as traffic evolves the fastest then available route is to go back to the route you were on so Waze will suggest it. I don't know that's necessarily indicative of a problem as much as it is Waze just working as intended.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,573
Likes: 83
From: CA, Mid OC
Waze literally makes no sense to me. It once took me off the freeway, had me go the opposite side, exit and then get back on the freeway. Lost 20 minutes. Also it recalculate constantly, and sometimes it will suddenly ask me to make a turn or exit when there is no way I can safely do so. Crashes constantly and once thought I was driving next to the freeway when in fact I was on the freeway
that's because you can't see miles ahead and don't know what others have reported. 
sounds odd, how long ago was this.
that's what it's supposed to do.
seriously? i've never seen it crash. ever.
exactly. is it perfect? no. it's a tool. no car gps is perfect.
It once took me off the freeway, had me go the opposite side, exit and then get back on the freeway. Lost 20 minutes.
Also it recalculate constantly,
Crashes constantly
well Waze etc reroutes based on dynamic information so it's entirely plausible that an initial reroute was the right call at that specific time but as traffic evolves the fastest then available route is to go back to the route you were on so Waze will suggest it. I don't know that's necessarily indicative of a problem as much as it is Waze just working as intended.
Lexus Champion
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From: California