TowElectric - Proposed route planner app
I’m a keen caravanner and have recently returned to the hobby after a few years absence. We have a family of two kids and two adults. We love the CL sites, the space and peaceful countryside (sometimes our kids spoil it, but we still appreciate it anyway!)
As a software developer by trade I’ve found the choice of navigation and route planning apps for caravanning can be frustrating. While planning to start my own company and start self employment in the near future, I’m trying to come up with something myself that solves some of the pain points.
As a recent EV tower, there are now even more challenges to proper navigation as charge stop planning becomes another challenge, unhitching and hitching up each time being one of the problems right now!
I am working on an app called TowElectric. It will be useful for all caravanners, but have some particular features to cater to EV owners who are very underserved at the moment.
The app is written with Ionic framework so it will work on Android / iOS as well as in a web browser.
I have been working on the app and testing myself and now it’s time to get some wider feedback and ideas.
Here are some of the features I have planned or am currently developing:
- Full route planning to all CLs and CS sites using their own navigation instructions as waypoints.
- List of site facilities for each destination, restrictions etc
- EV route planner to calculate charging stop distances, with curated list of the best charge stops for caravanners
- Approach screen allowing use of google street view combined with a hazard map (low bridges, single lane roads, etc)
What I am avoiding at the moment is turn by turn navigation, which is already well served. Instead my app will send the waypoints to your own Google Maps/Apple Maps or other SatNav app to do the ongoing navigation and turn by turn.
When approaching the site I plan to notify the user, and switch on a helpful screen to ensure you are aware of possible hazards and approach directions around the last mile or so.
What I am hoping for is some feedback and ideas from others.
- What do you struggle with when navigating to sites and would like to work better?
- Do you have a dedicated caravan satnav, and how do you find it if so?
- Would you be willing to pay a subscription for an app that was useful like this, and how much would you be happy to pay? It won’t be more than a few pounds a month but I want to know how much time to invest in it.
- Do you have specific features you’d like me to consider?
Hope this sounds interesting, and please let me know what you think!
Comments
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My first thought is that it sounds overly complicated and duplicating many things that already exist and for those reasons I wouldn't be one of your customers. I think you need to remember that many of us are in the older age range and some are not tech savvy at all.
However, I can see a list of charging stops suitable for a caravan to be a positive but think it near impossible to calculate charging stop distances as there are far too many variables at play with range.
I wish you well with your project but suspect the field is already quite crowded.
Btw, I assume you made contact with the Community Manager before using us for research. It’s the polite thing to do👍🏻
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I think that you are restricting your market by only taking account of CL and CS sites. There are many people who don't use them and/or use commercial sites as well as CCC and CMHC sites.
As noted above, there are already apps available for some of the information that you are incorporating in your app and Google maps, in conjunction with Android Auto, does an excellent job, for free, of routing and giving information.
I can't see many people subscribing a couple of pounds a month. The might pay a few pounds each year, but as there is a definite 'seasonal' aspect to caravanning, paying during the winter months, when you are not going to use the app, might be an issue.
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