Filipino Engineer develops app to track real-time gas prices, EV changing rates

The beta version is now available on iOS and Android.

Meet Odigo, a mobile app intended to help motorists track gas prices and electric vehicle charging rates based on their location.

Developed by Filipino software engineer Marvin Eguilos, the application uses data from the Department of Energy, community reports, and official prices published by oil companies to accurately indicate fuel costs across gas stations in the Philippines.

Although based in San Francisco, California, the idea came to Eguilos after visiting the Philippines in April.

“I was curious if there was an app in the Philippines where people can easily check for gas prices and compare between brands and stations,” he told radar.

After research on existing platforms, he found similar apps, though noted most of them have impractical user interfaces or contain inaccurate information due to lack of data. To address this, Odigo uses paid Application Programming Interface servers to compare and validate data.

“Odigo has DOE data and price predictions from trends and other factors,” Eguilos said in a reply in his original Reddit post. “Since a lot of them are estimates especially sa mga maliit na independent gas station, community price posting will be important pa rin.”

To address concerns on unreliable community reports, Eguilos said the app has built-in systems to cross-check uploaded data with DOE information and the user’s location.

For EV users, Odigo shows nearby charging stations based on connector type, network and charging rates.

Users can filter stations by brand or price, and tap on locations to view directions, operating hours and amenities.

The app also features a news section with updates on fuel prices, weather, and other transportation-related matters.

Odigo is currently in beta, available on iOS and Android while waiting for official release on the App Store and Google Play Store.

“I just sent the app for review sa App Store so hopefully in about a day or two, it will be released for everyone to download,” Eguilos told radar. “For Android, [Google] Play Store just requires it to be on a closed beta for 14 days so I can only invite people in the beta at the moment.”

He is also working on polishing the software’s interface to improve user experience for older devices.

For now, Odigo remains a non-profit passion project. “I really don’t like the idea of having ads because I spent so much time refining the design of the app,” Eguilos said.

When asked about possibly introducing a monthly subscription, Eguilos said the app is his “way of giving back to the community.” However, he is open to the idea, “as long as it’s done right.”

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