Stellantis rolls out app for intelligent route planning to all brands
Stellantis already introduced e-ROUTES at Citroën in October 2023. The app and its extended functions were gradually rolled out to electric cars from Peugeot, DS Automobiles, Vauxhall, and Opel. This summer, the app will also be introduced in the all-electric models from Fiat (600e), Fiat Professional (E-Scudo and E-Doblò), Alfa Romeo (Junior Elettrica), Jeep (Avenger), and Lancia (Ypsilon Electric).
The mobile application was initially developed for customers who had purchased a purely electric vehicle without a navigation system. “Its main scope is to provide to customers an intelligent trip planning solution capable of supplying always updated navigation guidance based on real-time vehicle data, such as the battery charge level, battery capacity, air temperature, etc.,” says Stellantis.
The app can be used either directly on the smartphone or via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in the infotainment system on the centre screen of the respective vehicle. Users can enter a route via the app. The system then suggests what it considers to be the most efficient charging stops along the selected route. On the infrastructure side, the algorithm takes into account the quality of the locations (number and characteristics of the charging points) and their availability (information about available charging points that are in use or out of service).
On the vehicle side, in addition to the dynamic vehicle data, consumption values and real-time traffic information, the user’s preferences, such as the charge level on arrival at the charging point and at the destination, are also taken into account. If conditions change, the journey can be recalculated. “For example, if the customer is travelling at a higher speed compared to suggested planning, e-ROUTES will inform the driver about new route options and will suggest anticipating the charging sessions, to guarantee the arrival at the predefined preferences selected by the customer (e.g. a specific minimum state of charge at the destination),” Stellantis explains.
When planning a journey to a suggested charging station, nearby restaurants, bars and hotels are also displayed so that users can decide whether they want to use the charging time for a coffee, for example, or plan their journey based on the availability of certain services. Depending on availability, e-ROUTES should also be able to estimate the cost of each charging session, so that the total cost of the charging required for the journey is known in advance. However, Stellantis does not provide any information in the press release as to whether this includes prices from different operators.
To use the app, the Stellantis vehicle must have ‘Connect Plus’. “This pack is available for customers with a dedicated trial period of use included in the vehicle price that depends on the brand,” says Stellantis. After this period, a subscription is required to continue using all the functions. The subscription for the individual service is a flexible offer. A monthly subscription costs 4 euros per month, while a one-year subscription costs 40 euros per year.
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