AA Report

The AA and Zapmap join forces to boost EV charging experience on the road

By
Zapmap
Published
The UK’s largest motoring organisation, The AA, has formed a strategic partnership with Zapmap, the UK’s leading public charging app for electric vehicle (EV) drivers, to help AA members stay charged up.
 
The exclusive motoring organisation partnership means AA members using their AA App will be able to access  Zapmap’s market leading charge point data, enabling drivers to discover the best place to charge, and check real-time availability.

With over 86,000 charge points mapped, Zapmap provides the most comprehensive data on charging locations, type, cost and availability. The recent award of the Department for Transport contract to deliver Electric Vehicle ChargePoint Open Data serves as a validation of its expertise.

This vital addition to The AA App now means the App is a comprehensive one-stop shop for drivers to go to one place to:
 
  • find a charger
  • plan a route
  • find parking
  • compare petrol prices
  • report a breakdown
  • catch up with motoring news
 
The AA App already maps pump prices around the UK, a service used by thousands of drivers daily as they seek the cheapest petrol and diesel. This is the first step in the strategic partnership, with the AA and Zapmap also exploring new ways they can combine to help accelerate the shift to electric.

While AA call-out statistics show that only 1.85% of all EV breakdowns are due to running out of charge, understanding the public charging infrastructure and having ready access to plan and pay tools is a key factor in ensuring that EV drivers avoid otherwise unnecessarily call-outs.

Nick Edwards, AA Chief Digital Officer, said:
 “Many drivers already use The AA App to find petrol and compare prices, so we are delighted to link up with Zapmap so that EV drivers can now track and locate the widest range of charge points in the UK.

“Our role is to create confidence for drivers and we know from our research that prospective and current EV drivers want more certainty about where they can charge. The Zapmap partnership delivers this.
“The AA is helping drivers adapt to the EV transition with more patrols trained to work on EVs; an incredibly high EV roadside fix rate (88%); and an innovative free-wheeling hub to help tow those few EVs that can’t be fixed.
“We are pleased to be working with Zapmap so that AA members can have the definitive guide to EV chargers at their finger tips via The AA App.”

Richard Bourne, CEO of Zapmap added: 
“We’re delighted to be working with the AA to bring additional services to their substantial base of EV driver members. This agreement leverages Zapmap and The AA’s mutual goal to make the EV driving experience simple, accessible, and stress-free for all.
"The AA will now be able to show its customers all types of chargers from high-powered en-route chargers, to destination chargers where you can charge while you stop, to near home charging for those who do not have access to off-street charging.  Having clear visibility of all these options helps make the next wave of EV drivers confident to make the switch."

The AA recently published the UK’s first EV Readiness Index which shows that many drivers still need considerable support before making the transition and this major enhancement to The AA App is another step along that road.   

The AA app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.