A new iPhone app could help EV drivers overcome ‘range anxiety’ by putting them in touch with other electric car users who have their own recharging points.
The idea, established by Silicon Valley start-up Xatori, is to encourage an community-driven EV charging network where people with recharging facilities make them available to electric car owners at times when they are not in use.
Called PlugShare, the app allows EV owners to connect with each other and find nearby private recharging facilities. The new app also details publicly available recharging points, to create the most comprehensive database of recharging facilities in the US.
Best of all, to offer your recharging facilities to an electric car user, you don’t even need a high-voltage supply, an ordinary domestic supply will also help keep EV drivers on the road. According to the PlugShare website, this will give householders the chance to meet real electric car drivers and find out if an electric car could suit them too, rather than talking to a pushy salesperson.
Drivers can use the map facility to find the nearest points, then find out details on when the point is available and the best way to contact the recharging point owner, to schedule in recharging time. People who want to share their electricity can indicate what type of outlet they have and how to gain access to it, and can then invite EV owners to make use of their facilities.
Free to use, the new iPhone and iPad app can be downloaded from the iTunes website now, visit; http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plugshare/id421788217?mt=8&ls=1
