As an attempt to alleviate range anxiety (one of the biggest – and overtly hyped – sources of stress facing electric vehicles drivers), Xatori has come up with an app for the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch — PlugShare – that gives electric car drivers a map of the nearest available charging stations. While all public charging stations are listed, the map even has a list of homes – yes, homes – in the neighborhood that will allow other drives to plug in and recharge their cars.

Xatori co-founder and chief executive Forrest North (the founder of Mission Motors and a former engineer at Tesla Motors), told Tech Crunch, “We want to build and support a community that’s creating a paradigm shift to a massively cleaner type of transportation. The reality is that most people will charge their electric vehicles at home and not exceed the range of their vehicle very often. This [app] provides a kind of backup plan, and lets you feel comfortable. If you did miscalculate, you’d be ok.”

Here’s how this works: users sign up for the free crowdsourced PlugShare to see all the available chargers. You can chose to share your own plug on the network, if you feel comfortable. Sharers can give as much information as they want, including a phone number or an email address. Non EV owners, who just want to share a regular plug-point that’s on the exterior of their house, can sign up too (this will give potential customers a way to learn a little bit more about electric vehicles).

The app essentially functions like the popular couchSurfing.org, which connects travelers across the world with people who are willing provide accommodation for free. In this case, of course, the traveler gets a plug-point.

While apprehensions about how many home owners will want to open their houses to strangers is understandable, most first EV buyers are likely to be huge enthusiasts, so this might have the potential to work.

There are literally power outlets everywhere, so hopefully this simple app can reduce the stress of range anxiety all together. An Android app will be out next.