Tips on EV Charging Apps in Malaysia – Which One Should You Go For

There’s always that reassurance that if you miss a petrol pump station, there’ll be another one just right up ahead. EV charging stations aren’t as many as petrol stations and are not as visible, but there are EV charging apps that help visualize and plan your routes to ensure that your EV is always within range of a charger and your drive “range anxiety” -free.

The tips on the functionality of an EV Charging App

The public charging network comprises many CPOs, so it may not be obvious to a certain degree to decide which CPOs you should settle with. The charging applications within this list allow users to select and view the charging bays and their kW charging rate, which is either per kW or time-based. The basics of what a charging app should cover are as follows:

• User-friendly ease of usage—When the application makes finding a charging station easier, it’s far easier to recommend it to those who are new to the adoption of EVs
• Compatibility of different charging networks operated by other service operators – Flexibility in deciding which charge point operator is ultimately crucial in giving the user an open-ended option for their preferred charging operator. The application itself should be able to support the varying CPOs despite the differences.
•  Real-time information on the CPO’s charging bay rates and maximum charge speed (kW)—accuracy in the details of the current charging bay is important as it indicates that the bay is indeed operable.
• Expected cost of your EV charging session—Transparency in price structure is great for helping users manage their expenses.
• Trip planning – creating a route based on where EV charges are available is detrimental to easing the driving stress induced by range anxiety that users often suffer from long trips.

Built-in EV charging apps

Check for software provided within your EV, which might be a good starter for understanding the charging points scattered across your area. Some EVs, like Tesla, provide their users with information about their superchargers and destination chargers by tapping the Public Charging tab on their screens. Being built into your car means that there is a direct connection of data between your vehicle’s system that allows it to recommend charging stations, accordingly, following the EV’s battery information.

SMART’s built-in 80% coverage of mapping for CPOs with EV charging app

SMART, as of recently writing this article, announced its built-in software for SMART cars, which covers 80% of the charging points already available within the charging station infrastructure in Malaysia during its launching of SMART #3. This is tied to Proton’s Pro-Net division, which collaborated with ChargeSini’s in its efforts to boost coverage of the charging network from 70% to the current 80%.

Its mobile application is labelled “Hello Smart,” and is currently available to download under both Google Play and Apple App stores. Navigating the map brings blips of the available CPOs and details of the charging points. However, suggestions of the CPOs aren’t available to be filtered; instead, it uses a proximity suggestion of the closest charging stations based on your current location.

List of EV Charging apps in Malaysia

ChargeEV-EV charging app

ChargEV is among the popular charging apps that cover a wide network of charging stations across Malaysia. The user is greeted with a login page that allows them to register as guests if needed. The app then navigates the user to map CPOs based on their location, providing details of charging rates and availability of the charging bays when clicking on one of the blipped stations. 

Filtered suggestions – ChargeEV

Suggestions can also be filtered according to the user’s required charging needs, such as opting for other chargers instead of chargEV chargers, type of connectors, and charging output (kW). The simple filter options leave a lot to be desired.

Payment methods – ChargEV

ChargEV features two methods of payment system able to be registered within the app, which are

• Wallet – requires the exchanging of real money (RM) for its token form “CR,” in which 1 CR is equivalent to RM1 and Singaporean equivalent currency.
• Credit card – both accepting payment cards from Singapore and Malaysia.

Trip Planner – ChargEV

A dedicated trip planner has been added to the app, which considers the EV registered by the user. The user is also able to input the current percentage of battery left for the EV before committing to the entirety of the route. It then calculates the best route with your battery in mind and suggests the next best charge point to continue the trip smoothly.

PlugShare EV charging app – community-driven updates on charging point

Once PlugShare is downloaded, it immediately brings users to its extensive map of CPO blips. Not having to register immediately gives a sense of relaxed restriction, unlike having to jump hoops to find a charge point. However, further interaction, such as leaving reviews for the charging point, requires registration.

Plugshare’s personal user review of the charging points.

The “Check In” feature tells other users that you are currently occupying the charging bay and provides other details to report, such as an inoperable charging point. PlugShare’s uniqueness is that it has its own review system, PlugScore, so that users can read about other users’ experiences charging at the selected charging point.

In depth charge point details – PlugShare charging EV app.

The charging bays are updated through other users and may not be accurate as PlugShare is not connected to the charging network of the respective charge operator. The information also includes amenities within the vicinity of the establishment itself and the charging bay’s condition, whether it is illuminated or not.

Payment gateways through the EV charging app PlugShare

Payment to utilise the charging points boils down to its specified charge point provider. If the charging point is under JomCharge, then the user must download the respective application to initiate the payment process from within the service operator’s app.

PlugShare filtering through its EV charging app.

PlugShare allows the filtering of its charging points according to the user’s need.

• Charging points that are above a certain PlugScore count.
• Vehicle plug type, which, if already registered, will automatically note the compatible chargers.
• Specify charging speeds (kW) of charging points.
•  Station count of charging points
• Amenities that are available within the charging points

Trip planner – PlugShare EV charging app

-PlugShare can create route planning from specified starting points to your destination, highlighting the route to visualize the lines crossing any mapped partner CPO.

-Displays the range of the EV you’ve registered before confirming routes; hence, you can decide exactly when to stop and where to stop along the road.

-This specific route is from KL-Penang, where the app asks beforehand if the user prefers northbound or southbound.

-The addition of travel points can be edited between destinations, and the app will calculate the range from within the starting point to the following added travel points.

Jomcharge-EV charging app

Right after opening Jomcharge, you are brought to its registration page, which displays a short slide play showing several of its highlighted features. You have the option to create an account or log in as a guest if it seems too trivial to bother registering. However, after tinkering around with the map and trying to utilize the search bar, it was prompted to register to allow further access where email verification is necessary.

After the verification process, additional optional steps were recommended for the completion of the profile, which included the addition of information divulging payment methods and vehicles. 

JomCharge charge point details

Charge point mapping is plentiful, and other operators are made available for display together. Selecting the charge point on the map brings up the bottom half of the screen with information related to the station’s output chargers and how to get there. Upon clicking further, the charging fee and type of connector point for the charging station are revealed with a nifty colour spread indicating available and unavailable chargers within the premise.

EV charging app map filter – Jomcharge

• Station Status, which shows the availability of chargers, including ones that are currently discounted.
• Charge Point Operator – JomCharge stations or partners
• Connector Type, Distance, and Charging Power

Summarised energy usage and history of charging

Similarly to ChargEV, Jomcharge has a specified tab that displays the amount of charging done within the current month, year, or all time. The section covers aspects of charging such as total paid and CO2 that is saved from your charging session! This is a small detail in the grander scheme of visualizing Ev’s greener initiative.

Jomcharge’s Autocharge – initiate charge without tinkering with an EV Charging app.

An option called Autocharge is available within the settings of the Jomcharge app; it requires linking your application and activation by filling in sensitive information such as VIN and Plate numbers. This feature currently only supports Chery and GAC Aion cars and is usable on charging stations that support this feature. The process only requires a single activation; for concurrent next usage, it’s just plug and charge.

CPO Coverage of the GO TO-U EV charging app

Long-range travels heading southbound and northbound are set up with TNB’s Electron stations within the establishment of R&R; GO TO-U currently serves as a charging app platform for TNB to sell its charging services to its users along the routes.

Unfortunately, large CPOs such as Jomcharge and ChargEV aren’t listed among the filtering options, leaving a huge gap in local CPO coverage. Consequently, filtering to only Tesla charging points, to my dismay, didn’t show any of the existing Tesla chargers on the map within Malaysia despite having the CPO within the list.

 Charge point details on the GO TO-U EV charging app

Clicking on a charge point brought up a small block from the bottom half of the screen that contained information that tells you about the charging point, including the charging rates. Going forward with the charging point option led to another page, which was surprisingly not about the charging point but instead a location tab that had the Tripadvisor excerpt notifying users about places nearby worth visiting. The next two tabs on the side were charger details and reviews left by previous users who had previously used the chargers.

The filtering options of the GO TO-U charging app

The filter options under the GO TO-U app have a tinge of uniqueness as they can provide recommendations of charging points according to the suitability of the EV registered for the account.  In my case, it was registered as the BYD Atto 3, but unfortunately, the registered model of the BYD on its app was only updated until 2022. Additional filters available were

• Preferred Charging speed (kW)
• Specified location types with the ability to make smart reservations or monitor the status
• Selected operator network
• Pay at the pump or available 24/7 stations and hide chargers under repair.

Payment option within GO TO-U

Paying for the charge points under the GO TO-U app requires the user to top up their GO TO-U wallet with their tokens, which are depicted as MYR-Units. Users are allowed to book and reserve the GO TO-U station up to 7 days in advance and charge under the charging points mapped within the GO TO-U charging app with the tokens.
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Tips on usage for EV Charging apps

The applications can be used in tandem to support the planning of travels that would help facilitate and provide charge to your vehicle along the way; some usage combinations as to what I would recommend are:

·         Plan long-distance travel with PlugShare and GO TO-U: If your travels are southbound and northbound, plan an optimal route with PlugShare to note the R&Rs that consist of TNB’s Electron charging stations. The GO TO-U app is then applicable to use to reserve and initiate charges utilizing the MYR units.

·         ChargEV and JomCharge for urban travels – Both can be used in conjunction with finding charge points, with the exception that ChargEV has its dedicated trip planner to highlight user-selected routes with charging points. Payment methods for both include tokens and credit cards, which simplifies the payment process for the charge station that you require a charge from.

Conclusion

As described above, the applications for EV charging have their fair share of strengths and weaknesses. I wouldn’t exactly compare them directly but utilise the apps accordingly based on their strengths. Throughout my usage of each of the listed charge point applications, I’ve come to realise that certain apps are meant to be used in conjunction with another to ensure the complete planning of a trip. It ultimately boils down to when and where you need the charge; for EV trips around urban areas, go for ChargEV or Jomcharge. Interstate travels and long trips northbound or southbound? utilise apps along the route, such as GO TO-U.