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.
Related stories:
EVs, smart charging and vehicle-to-grid: Your views required
Honda to electrify all European models, launch energy services company
Moixa set to become big in Japan
Volkswagen: Carmaker to become energy company
Nissan: 2019 will be “breakthrough year” for V2G, eyes energy retail market
Mitsubishi buys into Ovo, eyes vehicle to grid
Chargepoint raises £189m to fund EV charging infrastructure
Nissan: Vehicle to grid services will not drain EV batteries
BT and Eon pledge to electrify fleet by 2030
Total partners with Chargepoint to bundle energy and EVs to businesses
Bring forward zero carbon transport target, MPs urge
Octopus backs flex and EVs for growth
Energy managers to become fleet managers
BT procurement chief: Convergence is coming, energy managers must articulate impacts
Eon boss: Decarbonising power is done, now for heat and transport
EV boom no sweat, says National Grid
Flexitricity chief: UK has enough spare power electrify every car on the road
Pivot makes huge play for 2GW storage and EV charging network
‘Land grab’ for EV car parks and revenue
National Grid predicts huge solar growth, while EVs create huge storage capacity
Follow us at @EnergystMedia. For regular bulletins, sign up for the free newsletter.