Flo EV Charging Network Mobile App
Smart EV Charging
About the client
Flo operates one of the largest electric vehicle charging networks in North America, with “over 140,000 fast and level 2 EV charging stations deployed at public, private and residential locations”¹ deployed across Canada and the United States. Their infrastructure supports a wide range of use cases, from daily urban charging to long-distance travel, making reliability and accessibility critical to the driver experience.
As the network expanded, the mobile application became the primary interface between drivers and the Flo ecosystem.
Project overview
The project
Flo needed a mobile application capable of translating a large and complex charging infrastructure into a simple, intuitive experience for drivers. The app had to support the entire public charging journey, from discovering a station to completing a charging session, while handling real-time data at scale.
Beyond functionality, the goal was to rebuild trust in the mobile experience and position the app as a reliable companion in situations where users cannot afford friction.
The context
At the time, the EV charging app landscape was fragmented and often frustrating for users. Drivers frequently encountered inaccurate station data, complex payment Flows, and unreliable session tracking. These issues directly impacted adoption and brand perception.
For Flo, the challenge was not only technical. It was about redefining what a high-quality EV charging experience should feel like in real-world conditions.
UX challenges and technical constraints for home charging
The challenge
Displaying thousands of charging stations with accurate real-time availability
Ensuring fast and reliable session start/stop Flows
Simplifying payment and user account management
Reducing friction in high-pressure situations (low battery, poor signal, cold weather)
Constraints
Integration with real-time backend systems
Handling large volumes of live data
Ensuring performance on both iOS and Android
Maintaining consistency across multiple charging networks
Our approach and UX/UI solution for the network app
Designing for real-world charging scenariose
We approached the product from the perspective of the driver in context. Every decision was guided by a simple principle: reduce friction when it matters most.
The station discovery experience was redesigned around speed and clarity. Instead of overwhelming users with data, we focused on surfacing the most relevant information instantly, allowing drivers to quickly identify available and compatible stations nearby.
Making real-time data truly reliable
A key part of the experience was ensuring that the information displayed in the app could be trusted. Real-time availability, charger status, and session updates were treated as critical features rather than secondary enhancements.
We worked closely with backend systems to ensure that data synchronization was accurate and resilient, even in unstable network conditions.
Streamlining charging sessions and payments
Starting a charging session should never feel complex. We simplified the Flow to reduce the number of steps required, while maintaining transparency around pricing and usage.
This balance between simplicity and control helped reduce session abandonment and improved overall user confidence in the platform.
Building for scale
The application was designed from the ground up to support a growing network. As Flo continues to expand, the mobile experience remains stable, performant, and consistent, regardless of the number of stations or users.
Results and impact on the EV driver experience
Results
The transformation of the Flo mobile app had a direct and measurable impact on user satisfaction. The app store rating improved significantly, reflecting a complete shift in how users perceived the experience.
More importantly, drivers were able to rely on the app in critical moments, leading to higher session completion rates and fewer support requests. The mobile app became a key driver of trust and engagement within the Flo ecosystem.
Why this project matters
This case study demonstrates how a well-designed mobile experience can elevate an entire infrastructure network. By focusing on real-world usage and reliability, we helped transform a complex system into a seamless, user-friendly service.
Sidekick Interactive’s expertise in EV network apps
This project reinforced our ability to design and develop:
Real-time, data-driven mobile experiences
Scalable apps for large infrastructure networks
High-performance UX in critical user situations
High-performance applications for IOS and Android
