THE STATE OF EV APPS IN 2025 - THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

EV Channels Review

This episode of the EV Geek podcast delves into the often-criticized world of EV smartphone applications, featuring insights from Chris Bowe and Doug Wright. The discussion highlights a significant disparity in user satisfaction, with Tesla's app consistently praised for its seamless integration and functionality. Legacy automakers like Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and GM are shown to struggle, with their apps frequently plagued by lag, missing features, inconsistent data, and confusing interfaces. Ford's app, while offering some useful features like Pro Power control (though some have been removed), suffers from connectivity issues. Hyundai and Kia's apps are criticized for their slowness and high subscription costs, with Kia even gating over-the-air updates behind its top-tier paid subscription. GM's apps (Chevrolet and GMC) are also found to be unreliable, with incorrect charging status and a surprising lack of basic features. Rivian's app emerges as a strong contender, closely rivaling Tesla's in responsiveness and functionality, despite lacking some niche features. A recurring theme is the difficulty legacy automakers face in integrating EV features into existing platforms, often leading to a fragmented and frustrating user experience compared to EV-native companies.