How to Make an EV Rental App

Electric vehicle rental is becoming more and more popular. This is a convenient and fast way to travel around the city for short distances or get a car for that particular situation when you need it.

The electric car rental market is projected to expand significantly, growing from $11.29 billion in 2024 to $23.06 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3%, according to the 2025 report by The Business Research Company.

Even though this is now a popular innovation and you can find some rental services in cities, EV rental app development is a challenging project. Why? Because there’ll be a lot of things that require your attention. To name a few, you’ll need to:

• create a clear & catchy UI/UX design
• implement all the necessary features
• ensure a stable and quick data exchange between the mobile app and the EV fleet
• set up an administrative panel so that you can track all vehicles and monitor their technical condition.

Sign-up strengthens the relationship between users and the app, enabling personalized promotions based on their profile and in-app behavior.

To ensure a smooth registration process, integrate Social Login for quick sign-
ups via social networks. For added convenience in future logins, consider facial recognition or touch ID.

If you build a connected car app for EV rental, you'll also need driver’s license verification — we’ll cover that later in the article.

Map & Navigation

The map is one of the key features of an electric scooter or car rental app development. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and make it as user-friendly as possible.
A great solution is to enable users to find the nearest EVs using geolocation, eliminating the need to enter an address manually. You can also add icons to the map to indicate nearby rental stations or designated drop-off and pick-up points — if your business model supports them.

A well-designed map is crucial for helping users locate available EVs and rental stations with ease. When developing similar features, consider the cost to design an EV charging station finder app like PlugShare to plan your budget effectively.

📌 Your EMSP mobile app development company can implement this feature using Firebase Cloud Messaging, ensuring seamless communication with users.

Filters

Imagine your clients are in a hurry and need to rent a car quickly. They open the app and are met with a long list of options. To find the right one, they have to sort through all the available cars, which takes time.

App development for car-sharing isn’t possible without filter functionality. It helps users quickly narrow down their choices by selecting vehicles that meet their specific needs. For example, a user can filter by price, distance, battery level, or number of seats, making the process faster and more efficient.

Here are some useful filters you can include in your app:

• Rental price
• Vehicle type (e-scooter, bike, or car class)
• Battery charge level (and estimated driving range)
• User ratings and reviews
• Number of seats

Implementing smart filtering can enhance the user experience, helping customers find the perfect vehicle with just a few taps.

Payment Gateway

To enhance user convenience, integrate multiple payment options into your app, including credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Many apps now even support cryptocurrency payments, so why not consider it during electric vehicle rental application development? If it improves customer experience and boosts loyalty, it’s worth exploring.

You can also implement a bonus and discount system for both new and returning customers. Users can accumulate loyalty points and use them to pay for their rides, making your service more attractive and engaging.

Ratings and Reviews

After each trip, drivers can rate their experience and leave comments, helping future users choose the right car and test different models.

Reviews also help detect vehicle issues early. A quick feedback survey at return can ensure everything works properly — offering a small discount can boost participation.

Negative reviews? Don’t fear them — address them! Responding promptly shows transparency, builds trust, and improves the overall experience.

Push Notifications

Push notifications are a great way to keep users informed even when they’re not actively using the app. For better organization, these notifications can be divided into two types:

1. Foreground notifications – Real-time updates during an active rental session.
2. Promotional notifications – Passive alerts about new updates, promotions, or services.

While promotional notifications are straightforward, foreground notifications provide critical ride-related details, such as:

• Distance traveled
• Current rental cost
• Other real-time updates that enhance the user experience

These notifications cannot be dismissed and remain on the notification or lock screen while the app is in use.

Another useful feature is geofencing alerts, notifying users if they leave the service coverage area.

Your car rental app developer can implement push notifications using Firebase Cloud Messaging (a common solution). Alternatively, platforms like Sailthru and Airship offer more advanced functionality, so it’s worth discussing with your team to choose the best fit for your companion app.

History

A comprehensive ride history should be stored for users and each vehicle in the admin panel.

On the history screen, users should be able to:

1. Review past trips, analyzing costs and distances traveled.
2. See a list of rented vehicles they've used.
3. View previous rental locations for easy reference.
4. Check a map of past rentals, including dates and times.
5. Rate and review each rental, helping future users make informed choices.
6. Manage upcoming bookings, with a clear list of scheduled rentals.

These insights increase user engagement — as their trip history grows, they’ll be more likely to return to your service.

This functionality is also a great place to introduce gamification! During EV rental app development process, add badges for milestones like:

✅ Total distance traveled

✅ Time spent on the road

✅ Number of rentals completed

From an operational standpoint, keeping a detailed history of trips for each vehicle helps you:

• Track all vehicles efficiently
• Monitor charging levels to avoid downtime
• Ensure timely maintenance to prevent breakdowns
• Analyze profitability, optimizing fleet performance

By leveraging both user history and vehicle data, you can enhance the user experience while streamlining fleet management.

To prevent this, during EV rental app development we recommend adding the following details on the car details screen:

• Car model
• Real photos of the vehicle
• Current battery charge and estimated range
• Number of passenger seats
• Availability of a child seat
• Reviews from previous drivers

Uploading Documents

One of the most critical documents for car rental verification is the driver’s license.

To streamline this process:

• Guide users through verification immediately after registration.
• Allow them to upload documents from their gallery or take a photo directly.

How should verification be handled? The old-school manual method requires hiring someone to check documents, which is time-consuming and inefficient. Instead, automated verification solutions can speed up the process, reduce workload, and enhance user satisfaction.

We'll share the best tools for this in the section Tech Stack on how to make EV rental app — stay tuned!

Electric Car Insurance System

Before starting a rented car, users should complete a** quick inspection**. This protects both your business and the driver.

Key questions to ask before the ride:

1. Is there any visible external damage? Users should inspect the car and take photos if they notice any issues. This helps track damages, ensuring fair responsibility and avoiding disputes.
2. Is the car’s interior clean? Cleanliness impacts user satisfaction. Offer a simple rating system or preset answers like: "Yes, clean," "Not very," "The interior is dirty," etc. This feature also helps manage car maintenance efficiently.

💡 Tip: Allow users to upload up to 10 photos instead of the usual 2-3 for better documentation.

By implementing these checks during car rental app development, you create a transparent, fair, and user-friendly rental experience.

End of Ride & Handover

The final stage of the trip should ensure a smooth car return and provide users with all relevant ride details:

• Price
• Mileage
• Ride duration
• Ride map

An important feature at this stage is the smart lock system used to complete the trip. To prevent misuse:

• The connection with the server must be configured to lock the car immediately upon ride completion.
• This can be achieved using special APIs, which we’ll cover in the section Tech Stack on how to develop a car rental app.

A Battery Management System (BMS) simplifies this process. Found in each electric vehicle, BMS monitors and manages battery performance, optimizing cell balance and extending battery life. It also determines charging limits and provides users with real-time charge status updates.

Distance Meter

Your ride pricing depends on your business model — whether you charge for unlocking, time of use, or traveled distance.

To calculate the distance covered, an odometer (a device that measures distance, either mechanical or electronic) is used. You can integrate it during electric vehicle rental app development using various libraries or APIs based on your chosen programming language.

📌 To learn more about development costs, check out our article on how much does it cost to develop an e-scooter app like Lime!

⚙️ How to Enable Hardware Features of an Electric Vehicle Sharing App

To integrate hardware features into your EV rental app, you should ensure both security and maintenance functionalities are properly set up. These features rely on sensors, GPS modules, immobilizers, and software configurations to ensure smooth operation and safety. Below, we’ll explore key hardware components and how they enhance your electric vehicle rental service.

Anti-Theft and Anti-Vandalism Alarm

Anti-theft and anti-vandalism systems are essential security measures that help prevent unauthorized use or damage to your EV fleet. These alarms use various sensors to detect tampering or unauthorized movement. Additionally, you can set up an alert system for your admin panel or security team.

Here are some key alarm types for securing electric vehicles, which you can add during electric vehicle rental application development:

1. Motion sensors – Detect movement and can trigger an alarm.
2. Vibration sensors – Detect excessive shaking or vibrations, triggering an alert in case of suspicious activity.
3. GPS tracking – Use satellite technology to monitor the EV’s location and notify the admin panel of any unusual activity.
4. Immobilizers – Disable the engine or other components if unauthorized use is detected.
5. Audible alarms – Use loud sirens to attract attention and deter theft.

To simplify implementation, you can use ready-made solutions:

Maintenance Sensor

Maintenance sensors help monitor the EV’s condition and alert riders or fleet managers to potential issues before they lead to breakdowns. These sensors track the status of key components, ensuring safety and optimal performance.

Common types of maintenance sensors include:

1. Engine temperature sensors – Prevent overheating by monitoring temperature levels.
2. Battery sensors – Track battery charge levels and regulate power output to prevent over-discharge.
3. Tire pressure sensors – Ensure optimal tire pressure for better control and safety.
4. Brake sensors – Monitor braking force and adjust responsiveness as needed.
5. Speed sensors – Help maintain a safe riding speed.

Get Permission From the City

In addition to finding a reliable EV rental app development company, operating an EV rental service requires obtaining permits and licenses, which vary by location. You’ll need to check with local authorities to secure:

• A business license
• Insurance coverage (for both the business and rental vehicles)
• A tax registration number
• City-specific operational permits

Take into Account Weather Conditions

Weather significantly impacts e-scooter and e-bike demand. Usage is much higher in warm, dry conditions than during rain or strong winds.

To ensure year-round operations, consider:

• Investing in weather-resistant and durable EV models
• Offering discounts or promotions during bad weather to maintain ridership
• Storing vehicles in secure, weather-proof locations

Teach the User Basic Usage Skills

Unlike electric cars, which require a driver’s license, e-scooters and e-bikes attract a broader audience, including first-time riders. To prevent accidents and vehicle damage, it's essential to provide a quick onboarding tutorial before a user’s first ride.

A step-by-step guide should cover:

✔️ How to start and stop the scooter or bike

✔️ Speed control and braking

✔️ Safe riding zones and traffic rules

Our Approach: Custom Native BLE Module

To resolve the OTA update delays, we explored multiple solutions:

• Fixing the existing BLE library (react-native-ble-plx), but it lacked the required control and efficiency.
• Developing a custom native module, giving us full control over Bluetooth functionalities and enhancing update speed.

By reverse-engineering Egret’s protocol handler, we manually tested and extracted critical code segments, allowing us to fine-tune BLE communication.

📌 By choosing cross-platform EV rental app development, you can save up to 30% of the budget compared to building separate native apps, while still ensuring high-quality performance. Additional factors like custom BLE connectivity, OTA update management, or AI-based fleet optimization can further impact the budget.

Want a detailed estimate for your EV rental app? Contact us to discuss your project and craft a development roadmap tailored to your needs!

💡 Takeaways

Building a successful EV rental app requires a strategic combination of user-friendly design, seamless functionality, and robust security measures. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• Essential Features Matter – A smooth sign-up process, real-time GPS tracking, secure payments, and an intuitive booking system are must-haves to attract and retain users.
• User Experience is Key – Fast-loading maps, smart filtering, and a seamless checkout process ensure a hassle-free experience, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Security Shouldn’t Be Overlooked – Implementing strong encryption, two-factor authentication, and driver’s license verification protects both user data and your business.
• Payment Integration Needs to Be Reliable – Supporting multiple payment options (credit cards, digital wallets, and loyalty rewards) enhances accessibility and user trust.
• Ratings & Reviews Drive Engagement – Allowing users to share feedback builds credibility and helps maintain a high-quality fleet.
• Competitive Differentiation is Crucial – Features like AI-powered route suggestions, eco-friendly incentives, and premium vehicle options can set your app apart from the competition.
• Legal Compliance is Non-Negotiable – Securing licenses, ensuring GDPR compliance, and meeting city regulations are essential to operating legally and smoothly.

Whether you're launching a new EV rental service or upgrading an existing platform, our team can help you with EV rental app development. Get in touch with us today and let's turn your idea into a reality!