The need for different cards or apps to pay for electricity to charge the car at different stations can be a nuisance for some users. Volvo is committed to alleviating this frustration.
Automaker has announced that it is working to consolidate a wide range of charging functions and payment options in its Volvo Cars app to make charging EVs (almost) as easy as refueling a car.
In the US, the Volvo Cars app will be built on ChargePoint app, which already gives U.S. customers access to more than 25,000 charger locations nationwide. The app will be available this year, and in 2023 the automaker will partner with Electrify America. Customers will receive from the provider a free three-year subscription for fast charging 250 kW / h DC, as well as a 12-month membership.
Read also: Charging an electric car should be as convenient as gas to run
In China, the Volvo Cars program will work with Star Charge, State Grid and TELD, which together cover 75 percent of all public charging points in the country. Meanwhile, in Europe, Volvo drivers will be able to choose from more than 270,000 charging points thanks Plugsurfing integrated into the app. This allows cross-border access to charging across the continent.
In this regard, Volvo has spent the last few months investing in public charging networks in areas that it believes are of strategic importance in Europe. He has invested in charging sites under the Powerstop brand in Poland, Italy and Belgium, among others. They are all located along suburban roads to facilitate the use of EVs, and along with this it also has discounted rates via Plugsurfing and on IONITY stations.
“Many of us are familiar with the frustration of having to navigate multiple programs and carry multiple maps for different charging operators,” said Olivier Lödel, head of the electrification ecosystem at Volvo cars. “Our goal was to make life easier for our customers and eliminate one of the main barriers to customers’ transition to electric vehicles. With Volvo Cars, we will create a single digital charging platform. ”
https://www.carscoops.com/2022/05/volvo-looks-to-integrate-more-charging-companies-into-its-infotainment-app-to-simplify-charging/
