Best EV Charging & Route-Planning Apps in NZ: What to Download Before Your First Road Trip
One of the questions I hear from people considering an EV is: “But what happens when I want to go on a long trip?”
It’s a fair question.
If you’ve spent years driving petrol or diesel vehicles, planning where to refuel probably isn’t something you think much about. You drive until the fuel light starts getting a little too enthusiastic, find a petrol station and fill up.
Driving an EV requires a slightly different mindset — particularly when you’re travelling outside your normal routine.
But that doesn't mean long-distance EV travel needs to be difficult.
A little preparation before you leave can make a huge difference.
And one of the simplest things you can do is download your charging and route-planning apps before your first long journey — not while you're sitting beside a charger trying to work out how to use it.
The EV apps I’d have ready before leaving home
There isn't necessarily one app that does everything.
Some apps are designed to operate a particular charging network, while others are useful for finding chargers or planning an entire EV journey.
Here are some worth knowing about in New Zealand.
1. ChargeNet
For many New Zealand EV drivers, ChargeNet is one of the first apps I would download.
ChargeNet operates a large nationwide public fast-charging network, with more than 560 public fast-charging points around New Zealand at the time of writing.
The ChargeNet app allows you to:
locate nearby chargers
see real-time charger availability
check the number of charging points
see charging speeds
filter chargers by plug type, speed or availability
view pricing and station information
start and monitor charging sessions
manage payment through the app
Some compatible vehicles can also use Autocharge or Plug & Charge.
My tip: Create your account and add your payment details before you leave home.
ChargeNet also recommends an RFID fob as a useful backup, particularly in places where mobile coverage may be unreliable.
2. PlugShare
PlugShare is particularly useful when you want to look beyond one charging network.
It can help you find charging locations and see what charging options may be available along your route.
For someone new to EV ownership, having an app that gives you a broader picture of charging infrastructure can provide some extra confidence when you're travelling somewhere unfamiliar.
I’d use it as a planning tool alongside the actual app for whichever charging network you intend to use.
If you're planning a proper EV road trip, A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) is worth exploring.
Instead of simply showing chargers on a map, ABRP is designed specifically around EV journey planning.
You select your EV and destination and it can calculate potential charging stops along your journey.
Its route calculations can take factors such as your particular vehicle, temperature and terrain into consideration.
That's important because EV range isn't a fixed number.
More on that below.
This one isn't purely an EV app, but I think it's a very useful addition to your road-trip toolkit.
The NZ Transport Agency Journey Planner includes EV charging stations as well as information about roadworks, incidents, closures and other state-highway conditions.
NZTA's EV information is supported by EVRoam, a live database of New Zealand's public EV charging infrastructure.
For a longer journey, I'd check this as well as your charging app.
After all, knowing where the charger is doesn't help quite as much if the road you're planning to use is closed.
5. Z App
Z has been expanding its EV charging network around New Zealand and EV charging is integrated into the Z App.
The app can show charger availability and the progress of chargers currently being used, helping you plan your next charging stop.
You can also start and monitor your charging session through the app.
If there are Z charging locations on routes you regularly travel, it's worth having this set up in advance rather than downloading it when you arrive.
6. OpenLoop
Another name EV drivers may encounter is OpenLoop.
Its app allows users to search for nearby charging locations, check availability and pricing, activate compatible chargers, pay for charging and monitor charging sessions.
Again, you may not need every charging app every day.
But if you're heading on a longer trip, knowing which networks operate along your route — and having the relevant apps ready — can make the journey considerably easier.
Don't wait until you're standing beside the charger
This is probably my biggest practical tip.
Before your first EV road trip:
Download the apps.
Create the accounts.
Add your payment method.
Know which plug your vehicle uses.
Then have a quick look at the chargers you are likely to use.
It's much easier to work this out sitting at home with a coffee than in a car park with a low battery, questionable mobile reception and everyone asking when you're going to be back on the road.
Plan a primary charging stop — and a backup
If you're travelling beyond your EV's comfortable range, don't just identify one charger.
I would look at:
Plan A: Where you expect to charge.
Plan B: Another suitable charger before or after it.
You may arrive to find another vehicle charging, a charger temporarily unavailable or your plans changed because of traffic or weather.
Having a backup removes a lot of unnecessary stress.
And you don't necessarily need to arrive at every charger with your battery nearly empty.
Particularly while you're getting familiar with your EV, leaving yourself a comfortable buffer can make longer journeys much more relaxed.
Your EV's advertised range isn't a promise
This is another important part of planning.
If your EV displays a particular driving range, don't automatically assume you'll achieve exactly that distance in every situation.
Your real-world range can change depending on things such as:
speed
temperature
hills and terrain
headwinds
passengers and luggage
towing
heating and air conditioning
tyre pressures
your driving style.
A fully loaded vehicle travelling at open-road speeds through hilly terrain may therefore use energy differently from the same vehicle being driven around town.
Your vehicle will learn, calculate and display information as you drive, but understanding the factors affecting range helps you plan more confidently.
Not every charger will charge your EV at the same speed
Here's another trap for new EV owners.
A charger advertising a very high charging speed doesn't automatically mean your vehicle will charge at that rate.
Your actual charging speed can depend on:
the charger's maximum output
your vehicle's maximum charging capability
battery temperature
current battery state of charge
the vehicle's battery-management system.
So don't choose an EV simply because you've seen a huge kW number written beside a public charger.
Understanding your particular vehicle's charging capability is much more useful.
Sometimes the best charging stop isn't the fastest one
There is another side to EV road-trip planning that I think gets overlooked.
Charging doesn't always have to feel like waiting.
If you're going to stop for lunch anyway, a charger near a café may make more sense than the theoretically fastest charger somewhere with nothing around it.
Travelling with children?
A charging location near toilets, food or somewhere they can stretch their legs might suddenly look very attractive.
I think this is where EV ownership becomes easier once you stop trying to replicate the petrol-station experience.
Instead of: “I need to stop specifically to charge.”
It can become: “Where are we stopping anyway — and can we charge while we're there?”
That's a very different way of looking at it.
My first-EV-road-trip checklist
Before heading away, I would:
✓ Charge the vehicle before leaving home where practical.
✓ Download ChargeNet and any other charging-network apps relevant to the route.
✓ Set up accounts and payment methods before travelling.
✓ Use PlugShare, ABRP or another EV route planner to understand your charging options.
✓ Check the NZTA Journey Planner for road conditions and EV charging locations.
✓ Know which charging connector your EV requires.
✓ Identify your preferred charging stop.
✓ Identify at least one backup.
✓ Allow a sensible battery buffer rather than planning to arrive on virtually 0%.
✓ Remember that weather, speed, terrain and vehicle load can affect range.
✓ Take charging breaks as an opportunity for food, coffee, bathrooms and a stretch.
And most importantly:
Don't panic about the percentage on the screen. Plan around it.
Buying an EV or plug-in hybrid isn't simply about comparing battery size and advertised range.
The right vehicle needs to suit your life.
How far do you normally drive?
Can you charge at home?
What are your longer journeys?
Do you tow?
Will you regularly carry passengers or equipment?
How quickly can the vehicle charge?
What will it cost to finance and insure?
And what protection might be worth considering for the vehicle you've chosen?
These are the conversations I enjoy having because sometimes the vehicle with the biggest battery or longest advertised range isn't necessarily the best fit.
The goal isn't simply to buy an EV.
It's to choose one that works comfortably with how you actually drive.
If you're considering an EV, PHEV or another vehicle and want to understand your finance and protection options, I can help.
I have access to a range of lending avenues and can help compare vehicle finance structures, repayment options and relevant vehicle protection and insurance options.
No jargon. No pressure.
Just a conversation about what you're buying, how you intend to use it and what options might suit your circumstances.
Real chats. Smart choices. Confident ownership. Peace of mind.
Helping Kiwis fund, protect and enjoy their vehicles — one conversation at a time.
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