Users of EVs now have the option to banish gas stations from their point of interest categories in Google Maps, with the popular navigation app allowing drivers of electric cars to tailor their experience to their habits while using Android Auto.
Earlier this week, Google confirmed the changes to its Maps service to The Verge. Within the Android Auto phone-to-car projection feature, users can now choose to show a shortcut to find a charging station rather than the typical waypoint for gas stations.
Additionally, a whole host of options are available designed to improve convenience and functionality for electric vehicle users. These include being able to filter chargers by plug speed, allowing users to identify the fastest chargers for their cars, and offering the ability to filter recharge points by plug type to ensure compatibility.
Perhaps most valuable is the inclusion of “Real-Time Charging Port Availability.” With this feature, Google Maps displays the real-time availability of charging stations, allowing you to see if a port is currently in use, thereby minimizing wait times.
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Finally, on any trip that will require a recharge midway, Google Maps will suggest the best charge point location depending on battery level, predicted energy consumption, and current traffic.
While many of these features have been available for EVs running Google’s built-in software already (such as the Polestar 2, Volvo XC40, and Cadillac Lyriq), they previously weren’t available to those using Android Auto. However, after being introduced last year, and according to The Verge, recently being made more evident to users, the added functionality will help those who choose to project their phone’s infotainment capabilities to their car’s screen.
Rolling out the latest round of EV-friendly updates to Android Auto isn’t the only thing that Google Maps has been doing of late. In an effort to offset CO2, the app “eco routed” journeys, taking into account the most sustainable way of travel. In doing so, Google estimates it has saved drivers roughly 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions.
