Building a cross-platform mobile application for electric vehicle charging station discovery and management using React Native and AWS cloud services
The Challenge
Our client, a prominent clean energy solutions provider, needed to modernize their electric vehicle charging infrastructure with a user-centric mobile application. Their existing system lacked real-time capabilities and intuitive user interfaces, leading to poor user adoption and operational inefficiencies. They required a comprehensive solution addressing:
- Cross-platform mobile application for iOS and Android with native performance
- Real-time charging station availability and status updates
- Interactive map-based station discovery with intelligent clustering
- Seamless integration with existing charging infrastructure APIs
- Scalable backend to support thousands of concurrent users
- Location-based search with optimized proximity algorithms
- User vehicle management and charging session tracking
Our Solution
We developed a comprehensive mobile platform using React Native and AWS cloud services, creating an intuitive interface for EV drivers to discover, navigate to, and manage charging sessions at stations nationwide.
Architecture
- React Native with Expo framework for rapid cross-platform development
- AWS Amplify Gen 2 for modern fullstack cloud infrastructure
- GraphQL APIs via AWS AppSync with real-time subscriptions
- Location-based querying with geospatial optimization
- Serverless backend architecture for automatic scaling
- Clustered map rendering for improved performance with large datasets
- State management using Zustand for predictable app behavior
- Component-based UI with Gluestack v2 and NativeWind styling
Development Process
- Implemented custom map clustering using Supercluster for smooth performance
- Built reusable UI components with Tailwind-inspired styling via NativeWind
- Created type-safe GraphQL queries with automatic code generation
- Developed location-aware features using Expo Location services
- Integrated native map navigation with React Native Map Link
- Implemented real-time data synchronization with GraphQL subscriptions
- Optimized bundle size and performance for mobile constraints
- Set up CI/CD pipeline with automated testing and deployment
Key Features
- Interactive Station Discovery: Real-time map view with intelligent clustering and filtering
- Station Details & Availability: Live status updates for charger availability and specifications
- Navigation Integration: One-tap directions to stations using native map applications
- Station Management: Reserve chargers and initiate charging sessions directly from the app
- User Vehicle Profiles: Store multiple vehicle configurations and charging preferences
- Location-Based Search: Find nearby stations with customizable radius and filter options
- Responsive UI: Adaptive layouts optimized for various screen sizes and orientations
- Offline Support: Cache critical data for seamless offline experience
Expected Outcomes
The platform is designed to transform the EV charging experience:
- User Adoption: Anticipated significant increase in active user engagement
- Session Efficiency: Streamlined charging station discovery process
- Platform Coverage: Simultaneous iOS and Android deployment from single codebase
- Performance: Sub-second response times for station queries and updates
- Scalability: Built to handle thousands of concurrent users
- User Experience: Focus on intuitive design and seamless functionality
- Development Velocity: Accelerated feature delivery through cross-platform development
Technologies Used
- Mobile Framework: React Native, Expo SDK, TypeScript
- UI & Styling: Gluestack v2, NativeWind, Tailwind CSS
- Mapping: React Native Maps, Supercluster, React Native Map Link
- Backend: AWS Amplify Gen 2, AWS AppSync, GraphQL
- State Management: Zustand, React Hooks
- Development Tools: ESLint, Prettier, Husky, Jest
- Platform Features: Expo Location, Async Storage, Haptics
- Security: AWS IAM, Amplify Auth, Secure Token Management
