Route planning and live navigation....

[tkmaxx5]

We are looking forward (me perhaps more than my wife!) to our first long-distance trip in our Facelift MG5 in a couple of weeks (Leeds to Brittany, overnight in Folkestone). I'm happy enough with my route planning options (ABRP, ZapMap, Electroverse, WattsUp etc) but my question is what's the best option for actual navigation on the journey?

The route options most of the apps use don't seem to factor in traffic levels, road closures etc, so I'm tempted to use Google Maps (via Android Auto) to follow an approximate plan and then use one of the apps to find a charger on the go.

We are travelling with kids so chances are we will be stopping more regularly than the optimal planned journeys would suggest, so my approach will probably be to top-up every time we stop and then re-calibrate the next leg of the journey (ie we definitely need to stop at 'x' charger if we haven't already) although this feels a bit fast and loose!!

Any experienced heads out there got any tips?

 

[Grriff]

Not experienced but have researched the apps available. I believe Google maps is one of the best for finding chargers. Search for EV chargers. You can then use the appropriate app to find the detail about the chargers

 

[tkmaxx5]

Not experienced but have researched the apps available. I believe Google maps is one of the best for finding chargers. Search for EV chargers. You can then use the appropriate app to find the detail about the chargers

Thanks yes was thinking of this - wasn't sure how easily this could be done on the move using android auto, but will try it out hopefully before we set off!!

 

[Gadget Geek]

Plugshare uses Google Maps as it's base.

 

[Gomev]

There have been several threads on this topic and the general thoughts are find the chargers you want to charge at using whichever charger finder app you like, then set them as a destination in whichever navigation app you prefer.

Try these threads

Which route planning/charging planning apps are worth subscribing to?

For route/charge planning, of the apps that have a subscription—Zapmap and ABRP are the ones I’ve downloaded and played around with—which if any do people think worth paying the monthly or yearly subscription and why?

www.mgevs.com

Which EV route planning app do you prefer please?

Which route planner do you prefer and why please? I thought I’d ask as going on holiday down to St Austell, and have a few butterflies over the limited number of charge points in the West Country, coupled with the fact we will be taking delivery of our first EV MG ZS TLR two days before hand...

www.mgevs.com

Route planning for EVs

Planning a little run on Sunday so to be able to answer some question I went on line to plug it into a route planner. The main ones don't cater for EVs at all, none seem to offer shortest route as an option. It matters because using the shortest route it could (theoretically) be done without a...

www.mgevs.com

 

[tkmaxx5]

There have been several threads on this topic and the general thoughts are find the chargers you want to charge at using whichever charger finder app you like, then set them as a destination in whichever navigation app you prefer.

Try these threads

Which route planning/charging planning apps are worth subscribing to?

For route/charge planning, of the apps that have a subscription—Zapmap and ABRP are the ones I’ve downloaded and played around with—which if any do people think worth paying the monthly or yearly subscription and why?

www.mgevs.com

Which EV route planning app do you prefer please?

Which route planner do you prefer and why please? I thought I’d ask as going on holiday down to St Austell, and have a few butterflies over the limited number of charge points in the West Country, coupled with the fact we will be taking delivery of our first EV MG ZS TLR two days before hand...

www.mgevs.com

Route planning for EVs

Planning a little run on Sunday so to be able to answer some question I went on line to plug it into a route planner. The main ones don't cater for EVs at all, none seem to offer shortest route as an option. It matters because using the shortest route it could (theoretically) be done without a...

www.mgevs.com

Thank you - I did try have a search before posting (obviously not very well!).

My specific challenge is driving with kids where stops may be less hard to predict. But will have a read and a think.

Thanks again

 

[Gomev]

Thank you - I did try have a search before posting (obviously not very well!).

My specific challenge is driving with kids where stops may be less hard to predict. But will have a read and a think.

Thanks again

WattsUp is your answer. Keep it live on screen (not AA compatible unfortunately but someone did say it was Carplay) and it constantly shows you nearby chargers as you go.
Personally I use my preferred satnav on the infotainment and keep WattsUp active on my phone in the holder.

 

[tkmaxx5]

Thanks yes, I had seen that but was disappointed no android auto integration. But think I may well try that - Google Maps with overall journey plan (or optimal stops calculated via ABRP or whatever); wattsup open on a phone then (ideally) Electroverse to pay (as get discount, but won't be fussy on that!)
Can you have google maps running on Android Auto and wattsup running on your phone via the same device (will have a play with this setup soon).
Another question (sorry!) If you follow a route on wattsup will it re-route if you go another way (eg often Google maps suggests alternatives based on traffic etc)

 

[Gomev]

Thanks yes, I had seen that but was disappointed no android auto integration. But think I may well try that - Google Maps with overall journey plan (or optimal stops calculated via ABRP or whatever); wattsup open on a phone then (ideally) Electroverse to pay (as get discount, but won't be fussy on that!)
Can you have google maps running on Android Auto and wattsup running on your phone via the same device (will have a play with this setup soon).
Another question (sorry!) If you follow a route on wattsup will it re-route if you go another way (eg often Google maps suggests alternatives based on traffic etc)

Yes you can have both open, Usually Waze/G Maps on Infotainment and WU on my phone.
Not had that happen yet re re-routing, might be worth trying a dummy run when travelling locally, but you could just choose nearest charger from home screen.
Be aware that whilst en-route the nearest and next nearest chargers scroll across the bottom of the screen but if you have passed the nearest and it is still the nearest it will still show it as nearest. (hope that makes sense )