Zap-Map, the web-based travel planner which enables drivers to locate and update electric vehicle (EV) charge points in UK & Ireland, has announced that Good Energy has taken a 12.9% share in its parent company, with an option to take a majority share within two years.
Bristol-based Zap-Map is the leading app for Britain’s 200,000 EV drivers. It helps with planning routes, locating charge points, checking their availability and sharing power. Its 70,000 regular monthly users now have more than 11,000 charging devices to choose from across the UK which can be accessed through the app — from service stations to car parks, retail sites to private driveways.
Good Energy’s chief executive and founder Juliet Davenport said: “The way we view energy is changing. Environmental challenge and digital opportunity are converging; intelligent power sharing is replacing conventional power supply.
"Localised generation, localised storage and localised sharing too. EVs bring power to life, and the rapid rise of incredibly useful apps like Zap-Map make the management of that power so much simpler – at home, at work, or on the go.”
The deal will help fund and accelerate Zap-Map’s product development and seek to maintain the exponential growth of its EV user base.
Zap-Map’s co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham said: “Juliet and Good Energy share the understanding that the growth of EVs requires an entirely new mindset: a localised point-by-point power network and the ability to easily share or pay for electricity on a charge-by-charge basis."
Zap-Map licenses its live mapping service to Nissan for use on its customer portal and partners with Go Ultra Low. Following the successful launch of its Smart Route Planner, integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is planned. This is in addition to the roll-out of Zap-Pay, which aims to simplify smartphone payments for EV charging.