I’ll be honest. Sleuthing out the closest Starbucks or gas station is a big part of my Google Maps usage, but after test-driving a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid for six months, having the map app help me find an electric charging station would have been awesome. Leave it to the tech giant to make that a reality.
In October, Google announced it would add EV charging stations to its insanely popular navigation app. According to Green Car Reports, Google Maps will indicate where to find the nearest Tesla Supercharging stations as well as ChargePoint, EVgo, Blink and SemaConnect networks in the U.S. Additionally, it will show where to recharge in Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
One Map, Many Options
In a blog post, the technology company said it built Google Maps to assist people in getting where they need to go, regardless of the type of transportation they use. "Our newest feature brings helpful information about electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to the Map, so you can be confident that your car will be charged and ready for your ride, wherever you’re headed."
According to Google, it’s a cinch to find the nearest EV stations:
"Simply key in a quick search for keywords like ‘ev charging’ or ‘EV charging stations’ will display the nearest supported stations," the blog post instructs. In order to assist drivers in making a quick decision about which EV station to pull into, Maps will give drivers helpful info about the business, such as types of ports available, charging speeds, station ratings, photos, reviews, and questions. Nice.
Big Screen Love
Now that my test-drive is ending, and my days of relying on my beloved Apple Car Play for directions are waning, I can’t help but envy drivers who can pull up this glorious feature on their huge center screen (I’m talking to you, too, Android Auto fans) to find the location of the nearest EV station. Ah, well.
Even if you’re using your smartphone as your GPS (with a proper car mount of course), you’ll still reap the benefits of this new feature of Google Maps if you own an electric car. It’ll go a long way in easing fears on how to charge up when you hit the highway.
