This is kinda cool and sort of expected. Who would have thunkit that Volvo would be the one to introduce the new ChargePoint app that allows you to not only find a place to charge your EV, but to also handle the payment transaction from inside your car...on the infotainment screen. Yeah, I know you can handle this on your phone, but now you don't even have to do that. Of course the Google Android Auto OS used in new Volvos makes synchronization with your phone extremely easy, but I guess you can take consolation that the screen is bigger and easier to read. Volvo's Recharge EVs will be the first to get the new app starting with the XC40 Recharge (below) that is slowly making its way to dealers. So how does it work?
"When the high voltage battery in the XC40 Recharge reaches a driver-selected state of charge, the car is shifted into in Park, and available charging stations are within a half-mile radius, a visual alert appears on the 9.1-inch center touch screen, accompanied by an audible notification.
Touching the visual alert displays a list of available charging stations, their locations and pricing. The driver selects the preferred location to begin turn-by-turn navigation. The driver can also use Google Assistant to find and navigate to nearby stations by saying, “Hey Google, find a nearby ChargePoint charging station.”Upon arrival at the charging station the driver selects the appropriate charger from the on-screen list and touches the green “Start Charging” button. Using GPS location and cellular technology the app communicates with the ChargePoint network to activate the selected charger and release the plug. At that point the driver can get out of the car, remove the plug from the charger and plug in the car.
Source: Volvo - Media information, pics
