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Charging EVs when you use a degoogled phone

Deep dive into which navigation and charging apps require Google Play services

You want to charge your car but half of the apps seem to require Google Play services. What do you do?

Maybe you don't need an app

Non-networked Level 2 charger

This is the closest thing you're going to get to "paying with cash". Find a level 2 charger at a business that doesn't run payment through a charger network.

Charger that accepts a credit card

These are getting a lot more common (and reliable) than they have been. Newer networks like Ionna and BP Pulse are putting in solid hardware with tap to pay and card readers.

Charger that recognizes your car (yikes)

EVgo has a feature that recognizes your car's MAC address when you plug in. I set it up in their app back when they only had stand-alone stations and forgot about it for years. Then I stopped at one of their stations partnered with GM and Flying J. It remembered my car and charged the card automatically.

Support across apps

BP Pulse

App uses Google Maps for the map to find a charger but the app does load. You can type the charger number in to select which charger to power up.

ChargePoint

App rage quits when you don't have Google Play services installed.

Electrify America

App does load but the map requires Google Play services and there is no other option for finding a charger. A charger will come up in the search results but still disappear when you tap on it.

EV Connect

App does load but the map requires Google Play services and there is no other option for finding a charger.

EVgo

App does load but the map requires Google Play services and there appears to be no other option for selecting a charger. Plug and charge enrollment and payment management appear to work.

FPL Evolution

App uses Google Maps for the map to find a charger but the app does load. You can scan a QR code or type the charger number in to select which charger to power up.

Red E

App hangs while trying to load. It just spins.

What about the navigation apps

Looking for chargers based on the networks supported above?

A Better Route Planner (ABRP)

It appears to work completely as normal without Google Play services. The map is supplied by Mapbox and all of the information is still there.

PlugShare

Completely unusable without Google Play services.

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