From Tesla to Tata: What We Can Learn from the Best EV Charging Apps Today

Rapid growth is being seen in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The automobile market in the coming years is anticipated to be majorly led by EVs. In short, this leads to more cars on the road, needing more electricity, all while underlining the importance of helpful charging apps for everyone.

There are already companies that are on the forefront of this trend. Tesla? No surprise. Tata? Surprisingly strong. Ather, ChargePoint, and BP Pulse are among the brands helping push ahead with new ideas.

Entering the electric car industry, businesses should look closely at successful EV charging apps. Whatever your focus, whether you’re starting a new product or using On Demand EV Charging App Development Services, this blog shares the secrets behind their success and tips to use their best features and interface strategies to bring in more users and get your business on the right track.

The importance of EV Charging Apps in the EV world

Let’s be honest: it’s important to remember that an EV doesn’t just impact the car you drive. It’s about the charging experience.

Drivers don’t want to:

• Stress about finding a charging station

• Wait in line for a free plug

• Fumble with payment or account setups

They want a seamless, app-driven experience, just like they have with ride-hailing or food delivery.

That’s why top EV players are investing heavily in charging infrastructure—and even more in charging apps that simplify everything from locating to paying.

So, What Makes an EV Charging App “Great”?

To understand what works, we analyzed apps from leading EV brands and charging networks, including:

• Tesla

• Tata Power EZ Charge

• ChargePoint

• Ather Grid

• Electrify America

• BP Pulse

Here’s what we found—and what you can apply to your app or business.

1. Real-Time Charging Station Availability (Tesla, ChargePoint)

What They’re Doing Right:

Tesla’s app is known for its real-time Supercharger availability. You can instantly see:

• Which stations are busy

• How many slots are open

• Estimated wait times

ChargePoint takes it a step further by allowing users to filter stations by plug type, pricing, power level, and availability.

Why This Matters:

Nothing kills the EV experience like pulling up to a station only to find it’s full or out of service. Real-time data builds trust and convenience—two key ingredients for user retention.

What You Can Learn:

• Integrate real-time station status updates via IoT or APIs

• Allow filtering by connector type and charge speed

• Show availability forecasts based on current traffic or bookings

2. In-App Navigation & Route Planning (Tesla, Tata EZ Charge)

What They’re Doing Right:

Tesla’s app is deeply integrated with its navigation system. When you plan a long trip, the app auto-suggests charging stops along your route, optimized for range and time.

Tata Power’s EZ Charge app in India also offers navigation assistance using Google Maps APIs—smart, but still has room to improve on predictions and real-time traffic overlays.

Why This Matters:

EV users often suffer from “range anxiety.” Route-based charging planning gives them peace of mind.

What You Can Learn:

• Offer turn-by-turn navigation within the app

• Add predictive routing: if a stop is full, reroute to the next closest

• Calculate energy consumption based on terrain, traffic, and vehicle model

3. One-Tap Payment & Wallet Integration (BP Pulse, Ather Grid)

What They’re Doing Right:

BP Pulse allows users to tap, charge, and go, with seamless payment from a linked wallet or card.

Ather Grid takes a local-first approach by supporting UPI payments, which is crucial for the Indian market. It also offers a subscription model for unlimited charging.

Why This Matters:

No one wants to deal with clunky payment pages, failed transactions, or jumping between apps.

What You Can Learn:

• Integrate with local payment gateways (Stripe, Razorpay, PayPal, UPI, etc.)

• Offer Apple Pay / Google Pay integrations for global markets

• Include pre-paid wallets and auto top-up options

4. Charging Session Insights & History (Electrify America, Tata)

What They’re Doing Right:

Top apps offer users detailed reports post-charging:

• Total energy consumed (kWh)

• Charging duration

• Cost breakdown

• Environmental impact (e.g., CO2 saved)

Tata’s app even tracks your charging history and lets you view monthly summaries—great for EV owners managing their energy budgets.

Why This Matters:

Users like data. And when they can see tangible benefits, like cost savings or carbon reduction, they’re more likely to keep using the app—and recommend it.

What You Can Learn:

• Offer downloadable receipts for business users

• Visualize savings compared to gas vehicles

• Add “achievements” or gamification (e.g., CO2 saved = trees planted)

5. User Reviews & Station Ratings (ChargePoint, PlugShare)

What They’re Doing Right:

ChargePoint and PlugShare allow users to review and rate stations after use. This includes cleanliness, functionality, wait times, and even nearby amenities.

It’s like Yelp, but for EV charging stations.

Why This Matters:

Peer reviews help users make better decisions—and help operators improve.

What You Can Learn:

• Enable ratings, reviews, and photo uploads

• Use this data to flag stations with recurring issues

• Add filters for “most reliable,” “fastest charging,” or “best user-rated.”

6. Membership & Loyalty Features (BP Pulse, Ather)

What They’re Doing Right:

BP Pulse has a membership model where users can access discounted rates and priority support.

Ather offers a charging subscription that includes unlimited sessions at partner locations.

Why This Matters:

Recurring revenue + user retention = a healthy app business.

What You Can Learn:

• Introduce tiered plans for casual vs. frequent users

• Offer loyalty rewards (e.g., charge 10 times, get 1 free)

• Use notifications to promote recharges, milestones, or discounts

7. OTA (Over-the-Air) Firmware Updates & Smart Support (Tesla)

What They’re Doing Right:

Tesla sets the gold standard for OTA software updates—not just for its cars, but for its charging system.

Need a new feature? It appears in your app. Have an issue? The app guides you step-by-step.

Why This Matters:

EV charging apps are more than just maps and payments—they’re control hubs for smart mobility.

What You Can Learn:

• Push new features without needing full updates

• Include chat-based or AI-powered support

• Offer in-app FAQs, diagnostics, and remote troubleshooting

Bonus: Localization is Key (Tata, Ather)

While Tesla is optimized for global usage, Tata and Ather understand that localization matters in emerging markets.

From regional language support to local payment methods and geo-specific notifications, they’re tailoring their apps to real user behavior.

Don’t copy-paste a global template. Design for your market.

Final Thoughts: What Products to Buy and Which Ones to Forget

If you’re improving or creating an EV charging app, watching what others are doing and adjusting it to meet your customers’ needs is the most fruitful. Start with the must-haves: Being able to locate stations easily, access directions in the app, pay instantly, and check all your charging history. The existence of these features is what matters most for any useful EV charging app and helps solve user problems.

Afterward, make sure to add features that please users, such as rating and review systems, loyalty programs, and insight into the company’s eco-activities. Such features as games for carbon savings, subscriptions, and smart support are useful later on for a bigger user base, but are not needed at the start. Make sure the basic part of the experience is strong and flawless before you introduce any new changes.

To put it simply, analyze the good practices of companies like Tesla and Tatas, but ensure that you adapt them for your situation. Put more effort into giving your users something they can rely on and use, as it keeps them curious to return many times.

Need help building your EV charging app? Our expert team builds scalable, secure, and user-first EV platforms for startups and enterprises. Book a free consultation and let’s power up your charging business—faster.