EVs are fabulous for everything but long-distance travel across America’s midsection—something that could easily be improved by A)that drivers could trust to bring them to a functioning charger. Stellantis is about to launch what it says should be the best EV navigation app, dubbed e-Routes.
In a nutshell: Thorough cloud connectivity, from the vehicle to the cloud, and from charger network operators, charger rating organizations, traffic aggregators, and other data brokers in the cloud to the vehicle.
Native navigation systems should have a total leg up on smart-phone apps because, duh, the screen is connected to the electrical architecture monitoring energy use and battery status onboard the vehicle. But most such systems we’ve experienced fail to marry this valuable information with real-time traffic, weather, law-enforcement, speed-camera data, and info about charger functionality and availability.
As expected from any app, payment methods and charger-network memberships can be programmed for in-app or phone-proximity payment. The driver can also set parameters like desired battery-charge maximum and minimum values, and a particular offset to the speed limit. And of course, the app also provides info on shopping and dining options near every recommended charging stop.
The app went live in Europe in October of 2023 and the finishing touches are being applied to connect e-Routes to all the relevant data brokers in the US, for launch in the next year or so. We do expect Stellantis to leverage e-Routes to help fulfill its ambition of earning $21 billion in revenue across the 34 million vehicles it will be connected to by 2030. We’d guess $10 a month, which would be an awesome deal during those months you plan to road-trip your EV.