Google Maps Can Now Plan EV Road Trips With Charging Stops via Android Auto
A Google Maps the update unveiled Monday aims to streamline long-range electric vehicle road trips for Android Auto users. Navigation and mapping software can now automatically suggest charging stops when planning longer EV journeys, with more accurate arrival time and state-of-charge estimates based on how long its AI-powered routing algorithm estimates you’ll need to plug in. Google says it’s compatible with EVs from 16 automakers — including more than 350 models and trim levels — in the United States.
Route planning software has become much more sophisticated since the debut of the electric car. At the time, it continued a road trip in an EV it required multiple EV mapping and charging network apps and careful planning to ensure you got where you were going. Even for those of us who knew what we were doing, it could be very stressful.
Today, almost all modern electric vehicles feature connected navigation that automatically suggests charging stops (often with live station availability) when planning routes longer than the vehicle’s cruising range. Google Maps’ new EV route planning feature brings some of this new EV convenience to older models and drivers who prefer Google Maps and Android Auto ecosystem to the on-board software of their vehicle.
Enlarge image
Google Maps can use AI to estimate where and for how long you’ll need to charge when planning a long EV trip.
To get the new EV route planning, go to the Google Maps app on your phone, find the settings, and set your vehicle type to “Electric.” Then add the year, make, model and version and confirm the type of plug your electric vehicle uses (NACSCCS, J1772, etc.) Now when you plan a long route through Android Auto in your car, Google Maps (version 25.44 and later) will display the estimated battery usage for your trip, recommended charging stops (if applicable), charging time estimates, and the estimated duration and battery percentage upon arrival.
Unlike vehicles with “Google integrated” — such as Volvo electric vehicles, Polestar electric vehiclesand GM models like the EV Blazer And Equinox EV – Phone-based Android Auto is currently unable to automatically extract active battery information from most cars. Instead, you will be asked to manually enter your current battery percentage before starting a trip. Google will use this figure along with the electric vehicle’s weight, battery size and EPA range, real-time traffic information, road elevation changes and weather data to provide “accurate AI-driven forecasts” for the chosen route.
Enlarge image
Since phone-based Android Auto can’t pull live battery data from the host car, you’ll need to enter (and update) the starting battery percentage before taking off.
However, this means that Maps may not automatically update this estimate if your car isn’t performing as its AI model predicts. For example, if a heavier-than-average payload, additional equipment like a roof rack or trailer, or underinflated tires significantly reduce your efficiency, Android Auto and Google Maps may ignore that your range is decreasing faster than expected. As the saying goes, your mileage may (and almost certainly will) vary, so I advise you to keep a close eye on your range.
Still, this new generation of automatic charging plans appears to be a promising tool for improving convenience and reducing range anxiety at the start of a long trip. Being able to hop into an EV and hit the road with confidence is pretty nice, especially for owners of older EVs who don’t have access to on-board software for this type of dynamic route planning.
You can check Google’s site (or the settings page of the most recent Google Maps app) to see if your electric vehicle is one of the 16 makes and more than 350 models and trim levels supported.
