Powering the EV Revolution with GRIDSERVE

Successful app-development partnership puts the sun-to-wheel sustainable energy revolution in user's hands

Their flagship project involved the construction of the UK’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) forecourt, enabling the rapid charging of multiple Electric Vehicles at a single central location alongside other services, equivalent to fuel stations used by traditional vehicles.

The first near Braintree, Essex, is one of over 100 sites to be built by GRIDSERVE across the UK in the next five years.

The Challenge: Building the Foundations for a Sustainable Future

GRIDSERVE is on a mission to deliver "net zero transport at the speed and scale the climate crisis requires." Their groundbreaking "sun-to-wheel" vision integrates cutting-edge electric vehicle (EV) charging technology with clean energy generated from hybrid solar farms. With over 100 charging sites, including their award-winning Electric Forecourts®, GRIDSERVE needed a mobile app to connect drivers to their growing network.

The challenge wasn’t just to create the best mobile charging experience. It had to be underpinned by a scalable and robust data ecosystem that could evolve with GRIDSERVE’s rapid growth.

Dootrix has been working alongside GRIDSERVE since 2019, helping it to build technology solutions from the ground up to enable it to realise its dream of the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway, a network of: pioneering Electric Forecourts® combining the latest charging technology with first-class retail and relaxation spaces; the Electric Super Hub, covering the UK’s most important key routes with High Power chargers; and the Electric Retail Hub, providing convenient EV charging at popular shopping destinations.

To support this infrastructure, GRIDSERVE needed a comprehensive data solution, encompassing everything from charging session data to payment facilitation to back-office integration.

The data platform that Dootrix developed with GRIDSERVE as its Cloud Technology Partner is fully automated, rapidly deployable, proactively monitored and operates day-to-day without human intervention. Moreover, it’s highly secure and scalable – both key requirements for a business moving as quickly as GRIDSERVE.

Our journey helping GRIDSERVE deliver their vision, combined with our ongoing work managing their cloud service, made Dootrix a natural partner to develop their new app to integrate with their existing Microsoft data platform.

A Connected Mobile Experience and Cloud Native Ecosystem

Dootrix worked closely with GRIDSERVE to design, build, and deploy the GRIDSERVE mobile app, but the real innovation extended well beyond the app itself. Our team tackled the foundational challenges of handling complex data flows, integrating multiple data sources, and optimising information architecture, creating a cloud-native ecosystem in Microsoft Azure to support GRIDSERVE’s growing needs.

Key components of the solution included:

Data Platform: A centralised hub for all operational data, including real-time charger monitoring, payment reconciliation, and customer account management.

Cloud Infrastructure: Scalable Azure services to support a rapidly growing user base and asset portfolio.

Service Integration: APIs to integrate with on-the-ground hardware, payment systems, and customer relationship management tools.

Operational Resilience: A robust framework to manage outages, forecourt upgrades, and new site rollouts seamlessly.

The GRIDSERVE mobile app provides a customer-facing experience into the GRIDSERVE ecosystem of data and services. Available on iOS and Android, it enables EV drivers to:

• Locate chargers and forecourts with real-time availability and performance updates.
• Start and monitor charging sessions remotely.
• Make secure payments and access detailed receipts.

This seamless experience is only possible thanks to the enterprise cloud infrastructure that supports it.

The app enables EV drivers to find chargers, start a charge, pay for it, monitor it, and end their charge all through the app, and then get a charging summary of the cost and the amount of electricity that was used.

Driving Behaviour and Building for the Future

The GRIDSERVE app goes beyond convenience; it empowers EV drivers with actionable insights to optimise their charging habits. For instance, the charging curve visualisation shows users when their vehicle charges fastest (e.g., 40%-70%) and when diminishing returns set in.

This feature not only enhances individual charging experiences but also promotes better etiquette at public chargers. Drivers who understand their vehicle’s charging dynamics are less likely to occupy charging stations unnecessarily, improving availability for others.

The app has been warmly received by users, with a 4.6-star average rating across app stores. Here’s what some customers had to say:

“The GRIDSERVE app is a game-changer for EV owners. It’s incredibly intuitive, and being able to monitor my charging sessions remotely is a lifesaver!” –

“Finally, an app that gets EV charging right! Finding chargers is easy, and the payment process is super smooth. Love the attention to detail.” –

“Seamless and reliable. This app makes EV charging stress-free. GRIDSERVE has nailed it!” –

The app serves as the gateway to GRIDSERVE’s vision of sustainable, net-zero transport. Built on a strong technological foundation, it enables quick iteration and the rollout of market-leading features, positioning GRIDSERVE to remain a pioneer in the EV revolution.

Sustainability in Action

• Empowered Drivers: Users are equipped with real-time tools to manage their charging needs effectively.
• Improved Charging Behaviour: Data-driven features foster a more considerate charging culture, enhancing the overall EV ecosystem.
• Scalability for Growth: The app and its supporting infrastructure are primed to evolve with GRIDSERVE’s ambitious expansion goals.

At Dootrix, we’re proud to have been a partner in bringing GRIDSERVE’s transformative vision to life. The GRIDSERVE app is more than just an app - it’s a step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Ready to bring your vision to life? Let’s talk.