EV charging app launches North West drive aimed at involving local hosts
Plugable, the community-driven technology platform that unlocks access to the UK’s vast network of private EV chargers, is launching its EV charger sharing pilot in the North West, including Manchester, Liverpool,Warrington, Wigan and Bolton.
The pilot, starting today (June 19), follows a successful launch in Ireland and aims to make EV charging more reliable and affordable for EV drivers without private home chargers.
Plugable allows EV drivers to book affordable and reliable charging slots at local hosts’ homes, or destination chargers at private businesses, offering a reliable and convenient alternative to complement public charging infrastructure.
Through the Plugable app, users can find nearby EV chargers, book a convenient time slot, and enjoy lower rates compared with public chargers. Hosts set their own prices and availability, enabling them to earn passive income from their home charger when it’s not in use while supporting the EV community. Chargees and hosts signing up for the trial will receive a £25 bonus credit.
Despite a 30% increase in public EV charging stations in the UK, the majority of the 60,000 public charge points are concentrated in South East England, creating regional disparities.
In contrast, an estimated 700,000 private charge points across the country remain largely untapped. Plugable is making this extensive network more accessible, helping more people during the switch to electric vehicles.
Founder and CEO, Maebh Reynolds, said: “Plugable is on a mission to provide access to the UK’s largest EV charging network by 2025, making charging accessible for everyone, everywhere.
“Our peer-to-peer network is coming to the UK to allow hosts to maximise the utilisation of their home chargers, earning passive income and supporting the wider EV community. By democratising access to EV charging, we aim to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.”
Plugable was inspired by Maebh’s experience of switching to an EV and facing charging challenges due to living in an apartment building. Harnessing her expertise in engineering and sustainability, Plugable was established to leverage idle home chargers, which are unused 80% of the time, to support the EV community during the net-zero transition.
As Plugable grows, it is set to expand its charging marketplace nationwide, including onboarding businesses such as gyms and hotels to the platform to offer their destination EV chargers to the community. This expansion aims to further democratise access to EV charging.
