Good Energy has taken a 12.9 per cent share in Zap-Map’s parent company, with an option to take a majority share within two years. Zap-Map is the go-to app for Britain’s 200,000 electric vehicle (EV) drivers – planning routes, locating charge points, checking their availability and sharing power.

Its 70,000 regular monthly users have more than 11,000 charging devices to choose from across the UK, all easily navigable from its app — from service stations to car parks, retail sites to private driveways. And as the network continues to increase rapidly, so too does the number of Zap-Map registered EV drivers in its thriving community, who actively log the status and availability of the national charging network.

Good Energy’s investment reflects the fast-changing way in which people live with energy with an increasing number of households and businesses now generating, storing and sharing power, rather than simply consuming it. Good Energy is at that forefront of the shift towards localised power, as the only UK energy company with more customers generating their own power versus buying it. EVs will play a crucial role in the new energy sharing economy and their increasing numbers will be a huge catalyst for that change, making power more tangible than ever before.

Bristol-based Zap-Map licenses its live mapping service to Nissan for use on its customer portal and partners with Go Ultra Low, the government and car industry backed campaign designed to encourage EV-adoption. 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 simplifies smartphone payments for EV charging – one dedicated charging app usable across multiple networks, instead of signing up to myriad supplier cards and apps with different accounts, passwords and user experiences.

In line with Good Energy’s localised power strategy, Zap-Map features Zap-Home, a network of private charging locations owned by households and businesses who have chosen to share electricity with other Zap-Map registered drivers. Access times and charging costs are set by the owner – or supplier – of each charging point, with some choosing to offer electricity for free. Where peer-to-peer payments apply, these can also be securely made within the Zap-Map app.

The deal will help fund and accelerate Zap-Map’s product development as it realises the full potential of its digital EV charging services. The two South West England teams will collaborate on broader applications for the proprietary platform, while seeking to maintain the exponential growth of its EV user base.