Modern connected vehicles, especially EVs, generate a ton of data, but automakers often don’t give owners a good way to access and analyze it. Instead, owners can end up like the New York Times reported earlier this year: tricked into giving away their data for little to no benefit. Ben Schippers is changing this with TezLab, an app that’s like Strava for EVs, starting with Teslas and recently expanding to Rivian vehicles. TezLab just launched a new “car report” section of the app that is a stat nerd’s dream – if they’re willing to pay $5.99 per month for the “Pro” subscription.
The car report displays a variety of data points like DC fast charger usage versus home charging, number of 100% charges, and estimated travel distance based on driving style. There are detailed visualizations, including a map of possible destinations based on charge level and driver behavior. TezLab processes most of this information with machine learning before presenting it to the user. The car report also compares data points with other Tesla users, allowing owners to see how their battery preservation methods compare.
This all comes about a year after Tesla released an official API for third-party developers, formalizing an existing ecosystem. Schippers’ team of five spent the past year working closely with Tesla to understand the API’s data access and interpretation. This has paid off, as TezLab has evolved from a basic app offering car controls and trip tracking to a comprehensive experience for owners to browse while relaxing at home.
Despite its name, TezLab isn’t limited to Tesla owners. In addition to adding Rivian vehicles, Schippers plans to expand to other popular EVs like Hyundai and Kia.
The expansion process will take time, requiring partnerships with other automakers and more resources. Schippers mentioned bootstrapping TezLab thus far and aiming to fund operations through customer acquisition and the Pro subscription. The focus is on balancing growth with costs and ensuring that paid subscriptions cover expenses as the app grows.
