A University of Southampton app is being premiered today to make it easier for people to drive electric cars.

The app would make it easier for drivers to find charging points, and updates on what is available, to make long journeys easier.

Scientists hope it will have the same impact on driving as Sat Navs.

The app will be premiered at London's Barbican this afternoon.

It uses artificial intelligence to encourage drivers to start using electric cars.

The algorithm will learn drivers' preferences from historical behaviour like stopping at stations with coffee or toilet facilities, and interacting with the user to improve future results.

Professor Sebastian Stein, lead researcher of the project and Turing AI Fellow at the university, said the app could "herald a real breakthrough" in encouraging people to take up driving electric cars - just like Sat Navs "transformed getting from A to B".

He added: “Research conducted with over 1,200 EV drivers, including those at the Fully Charged LIVE event in Farnborough in spring this year, revealed that more than a third of EV drivers are dissatisfied with their charging experiences on long journeys.  

“Moreover, people’s needs for charging stations vary between individuals. For example, for 32 per cent of EV drivers, charging speed is the single most important feature they consider, but seven per cent of drivers choose stations based primarily on cost.

"Many also cited the lack of real-time information on charge point availability and service status as a major problem. Our app will address all these issues.”

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a crucial part of the government's strategy for reducing climate change and achieving net zero.

To support the uptake, the UK is planning to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

But research from the university shows that a big barrier to electric cars is the provision of charging points, which the app hopes to address.

A video will demonstrate how the app works by one of the project’s researchers, Dr Elnaz Shafipour.

It will be shown as part of an event to launch a campaign - Net Zero: A Digital Journey - from The Chartered Institute for IT in association with Content With Purpose.

The video will also be available to watch online from tomorrow at: netzerodigital.bcs.org

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