Good Energy has taken a 12.9 per cent stake in Zap-Map with an option to buy the company in two years.
The move is strategic, as it gives Good Energy significant data on EV owners and another potential avenue to sell renewable power and related energy services.
Zap-Map has 70,000 monthly users who use the app to find charging stations and use its route planner based around charging needs. The firm licenses its mapping software to Nissan and plans to integrate with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It is rolling out Zap-Pay, which means drivers can use one smartphone app to pay for power across multiple charging networks.
The app also enables access to a network of private charging locations that are available to Zap-Map registered users.
Co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham said the deal with Good Energy would help drive peer-to-peer markets.
“Good Energy shares 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,” she said.
“Together we will can lead in the emerging energy sharing economy in which homes, businesses and EV owners will trade and exchange power using the local energy grids of the not-too-distant future.”
While some energy companies are buying or partnering with charging companies, Good Energy said it has no plans to invest in charging infrastructure “just yet”.
The company recently launched an EV tariff and is involved in a vehicle-to-grid/vehicle-to-home trial with Honda and Salford University.
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