What is the Cost to Build Software for Electric Vehicles?

With the push toward responsible mobility in the context of climate change and the environment, the general masses are opting for electric vehicles. Due to the government's active contribution in terms of incentives and rebates, the overall infrastructure is upturning for the charging stations. Similar alleviation is visible on the technical side of electronic vehicle charging stations.


The current figures evaluating the EV charging management software is $928.69 Mn. However, this is anticipated to reach $10073.51 Mn by 2032. Such an ascent in figures reflects how fast the industry will boom. Considering that new launched EV car by Mahindra, BE 6, has a claimed mileage of 682 km (423 miles), there is no doubt that soon electronic vehicles will be dominating the market.


Since the premise highlights how electronic vehicles are augmenting the automobile industry, similar will be the case with the software industry working on EV solutions. Decision-makers are agreeing on building advanced EV software ready to move ahead with the market needs. You, an EV-focused enthusiast, must also be comprehending the same questions. Among them, the development cost of building an EV charging management software would be one.



Considering that EV software development cost is a concern to all the decision-makers, it is high time to take a look at it and plan accordingly.

EV Software Development Cost Breakdown Based on Factors

Comparable to others, you might as well be looking for a fixed figure for the development process. However, the case is not the same. Since the development process constitutes multiple factors like the choice of software size, distinctive platform preference, and technology stack, the final cost differs on a project basis. It can be tricky to bring forth a definitive figure, but providing a range of EV software development costs is a possibility.


The below-mentioned are the factors that oftentimes affect the final cost of software development. To come closer to a conclusive investment based on your EV software requirements, you must assess the factors mentioned below.

1.     EV Software Size

The size of the EV software affects the conclusive cost of development. To bring a comprehended version, the features and functionalities EV businesses often choose to either increase or decrease the EV software development cost. For instance, EV software with a basic search bar feature will cost less than software with an advanced search bar with intelligent features.


This is exactly where the difference comes in and how the feature’s choice leads to variation in cost. The table below presents the cost difference based on the distinctive software size.

 

Electronic Vehicle Software Complexity	EV Software Development Cost
Basic App	$35,000 to $55,000
Medium App	$55,000 to $120,000
Advanced App	$120,000 to $300,000

2. UI/UX Design for EV Software

Coming to the next point, the UI/UX design preference is another factor that affects the cost of EV software development. For instance, there are often two choices for EV businesses to choose from. The first is to choose from the wide range of ready-made templates available that cost less but are not exceptional to the users.

The second is the choice to build the UI/UX design from scratch to present the audience with the company’s vision and distinctive layout. This option costs more than the template but brings forth a chance to customize the interface to offer layman-friendly navigation.

Designing Stage	Duration
Planning and Analysis	2-3 weeks
Wireframing and Prototyping	1-3 weeks
Low-Fidelity Wireframe	2-3 weeks
High-Fidelity Wireframe	3-4 weeks
App Designing	1-2 weeks
Prototype	4-5 weeks

3. EV Software Development Cost Based on Technology Stack

Proceeding to the next factor, the EV software development technology stack. Whatever EV businesses choose based on the platform, the intelligent technologies, and the audience they want to offer their services to, this ultimately affects the final cost of building EV software. For reference, the detailed cost estimation is mentioned below to enable decision-makers like you to make a better judgment.

Technology Stack	Estimated Cost
Frontend
React Native	$15,000 - $30,000
Flutter	$18,000 - $35,000
Native (Swift/Kotlin)	$25,000 - $50,000
Backend
Node.js	$10,000 - $20,000
Ruby on Rails	$12,000 - $25,000
Python/Django	$15,000 - $30,000
Database
MySQL/PostgreSQL	$3,000 - $8,000
MongoDB	$4,000 - $10,000
API Development	$8,000 - $15,000
Cloud Services
AWS/GCP/Azure	$5,000 - $12,000
DevOps Tools
CI/CD Pipelines	$4,000 - $10,000
Kubernetes/Docker	$6,000 - $15,000
Security & Compliance	$7,000 - $20,000
IoT Integration	$12,000 - $30,000

 

4.     Hiring Model for EV Software Development Cost

Last but not least, we have the hiring model that eventually affects the final EV software development cost. You can choose to build an in-house team, outsource the customer EV software development services, or hire freelancers for the project. Any hiring model you choose comes with a cost range as well as a pros and cons list.

For instance, hiring freelancers may appear cost-efficient; however, the issue of project accountability and trust remains questioned. Similar is the case with the in-house team. You might not have to pay the service charge one pays while outsourcing, but the monthly salaries, resource consumption, and overall benefits can amount upto that. As we have presented the reality, it is high time for you to comprehend the table below and choose to favor your EV business.

Hiring Model	EV Software Development Cost
In-House Team	$120,000 - $250,000/year per team
Freelancers	$25 - $100/hour
Dedicated Team	$40,000 - $100,000/project
Outsourcing Agency	$50,000 - $200,000/project
Staff Augmentation	$40 - $150/hour
Offshore Development Team	$25 - $70/hour
Onshore Development Team	$70 - $150/hour
Hybrid Model	Depends on the EV software development team's composition

 

Conclusion

The factors elaborated bring us to the final conclusion, where we discuss the range of EV software development costs. To present an apprehended figure, it is understood that the cost to build EV solutions can range from as low as $35,000 to as high as $300,000. The conclusive cost depends on your choice of features, functionalities, and the advanced nature of the software.

 

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Author Bio: Helen Ruth is an experienced EV software developer with a keen focus on intelligent technology trends. With her knowledge, she provides valuable insights into the growing EV market for better comprehension.

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