Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/Google
Google Maps keeps getting better on Android Auto, and after parking information and 3D buildings, the application is now gearing up for another important update.
Google Maps for Android Auto will soon be able to access and display real-time battery information when running in an electric vehicle.
The Mountain View-based search giant shared the announcement today at CES, explaining that Google Maps' EV feature lineup includes capabilities to suggest charging stops whenever the battery level doesn't allow you to reach the configured destination. The feature is already available on Android Automotive, and Google will use special vehicle integration to bring it to Android Auto, too.
The navigation app will also show how long it'll take to charge the battery based on the vehicle profile. Android Auto users will see the estimated battery level upon arrival at the destination, so they'll know how much juice is left when starting a new journey.
The feature won't be available for everyone running Google Maps on Android Auto in an electric vehicle, and because it'll require special vehicle integration, the search company must work with carmakers to make it happen.
Ford will become the first company to release such capabilities for Google Maps users on Android Auto, with the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning to receive the update in the coming months. Google says more models will follow shortly, but no specifics are available today.
Google Maps getting deeper vehicle integration for more advanced EV information is a long-overdue update, and if you believe you've seen similar capabilities somewhere else, you're not wrong. Apple also offers these features in Apple Maps, and Ford is also a pioneer in their adoption. The EV routing is available on the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning, the same models that'll soon get the Google Maps support too.
Apple announced the Apple Maps vehicle integration for more advanced EV features, including the battery level and the suggested charging stops, in 2020, but it needed two more years to begin the rollout. The availability is still very limited today, but Apple's announcement has probably served as an incentive for Google to improve Google Maps on a similar front.
Google also announced that it plans an expansion of the digital key support, with select Volvo cars to receive it soon. The company says it's already working to bring it to more car brands in the future, with other phones to be supported, too.
Digital car keys allow drivers to unlock and lock their cars, start the engines, and share access with contacts without physical keys, using only an Android device. The feature is already available on a handful of cars with Google Pixel phones, but it is making slow progress regarding the rollout to more brands and models.
The Mountain View-based search giant shared the announcement today at CES, explaining that Google Maps' EV feature lineup includes capabilities to suggest charging stops whenever the battery level doesn't allow you to reach the configured destination. The feature is already available on Android Automotive, and Google will use special vehicle integration to bring it to Android Auto, too.
The navigation app will also show how long it'll take to charge the battery based on the vehicle profile. Android Auto users will see the estimated battery level upon arrival at the destination, so they'll know how much juice is left when starting a new journey.
The feature won't be available for everyone running Google Maps on Android Auto in an electric vehicle, and because it'll require special vehicle integration, the search company must work with carmakers to make it happen.
Ford will become the first company to release such capabilities for Google Maps users on Android Auto, with the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning to receive the update in the coming months. Google says more models will follow shortly, but no specifics are available today.
Google Maps getting deeper vehicle integration for more advanced EV information is a long-overdue update, and if you believe you've seen similar capabilities somewhere else, you're not wrong. Apple also offers these features in Apple Maps, and Ford is also a pioneer in their adoption. The EV routing is available on the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning, the same models that'll soon get the Google Maps support too.
Apple announced the Apple Maps vehicle integration for more advanced EV features, including the battery level and the suggested charging stops, in 2020, but it needed two more years to begin the rollout. The availability is still very limited today, but Apple's announcement has probably served as an incentive for Google to improve Google Maps on a similar front.
Google also announced that it plans an expansion of the digital key support, with select Volvo cars to receive it soon. The company says it's already working to bring it to more car brands in the future, with other phones to be supported, too.
Digital car keys allow drivers to unlock and lock their cars, start the engines, and share access with contacts without physical keys, using only an Android device. The feature is already available on a handful of cars with Google Pixel phones, but it is making slow progress regarding the rollout to more brands and models.
Google News