GM is trying to make life easier for Chevrolet Bolt EV users in the United States with a series of enhancements for the myChevrolet app’s Energy Assist feature.
The updates are meant to ease access to the nationwide network of public charging stations and offer real-time station data. As a result, GM says finding an available public charging station and initiating a charging session has never been easier for Chevrolet Bolt EV owners.
Energy Assist is a standard feature available in the myChevrolet mobile app that became available in 2017. It enables Bolt EV owners to plan and manage their routes more effectively, locate available charging stations, monitor their route and receive real-time alerts if their projected range changes dramatically.
For 2020, Energy Assist brings a series of improvements, including Dynamic Data Integration, Start-to-Charge, expanded map of charging stations, and a new feedback feature.
Energy Assist now displays dynamic data from charging networks EVgo and ChargePoint, enabling Bolt EV owners to have a more seamless charging experience. Information provided by charging networks includes real-time data on charge station status to indicate if a charging station is available. Throughout the year, GM will integrated dynamic data from additional charging providers, including EV Connect.
‘Start-to-Charge’ is another new feature allowing owners to link their EVgo account to activate and pay for charging sessions right from the myChevrolet app. This eliminates the need to toggle between apps and streamlines the payment process. Eligible starting stations are marked within the app and their number looks set to rise throughout 2020.
Energy Assist offers Bolt EV owners access to all compatible charging station locations, regardless of the operator. This means EV owners have more than 40,000 charging stations at their disposal in North America, including 30 percent more DC Fast Chargers compared to 2019.
Finally, GM is implementing a new feedback feature for Bolt EV owners. Starting in early 2020, users will be able to review and rate charging stations within the myChevrolet app by providing a star rating and leaving comments about their experience.