Google Maps EV recharge maps are a great idea

Google Maps adds information about charging stations for electric vehicles, promising to make it easier to power an EV or a hybrid plug-in. The new feature is being added to the Google Maps app for iOS and Android and will be followed in the desktop version in the coming weeks, Google announced.

In doing so, we will fill an obvious gap in the transportation sector. Google Maps has a long history of public transit options, including bus, metro, carpooling, and point-of-interest data. However, he left details for electric vehicle charging points for other applications.

Now, however, you can search for "ev charge" or "ev charging station" and get a list of options closest to your current location. As you might expect, Google's implementation of the search for EV charging infrastructure, however, is not just a physical place. It also provides information on the type of charger for each point.

For example, there will be data on the types of ports available, as well as their number. Google Maps will also indicate the loading speeds and the loading network to which they belong. Worldwide, the Tesla and Chargepoint networks will be supported, while in the US there will also be EVgo, Blink and SemaConnect. In the United Kingdom, Chargemaster and Pod Point stations will be included; in Australia and New Zealand, there will be Chargefox sites.

Each list will also show details of the company in which the magazine is located. Conversely, companies with on-site charging stations will also have a link to the specific charger page. Drivers will be able to leave comments on chargers, along with photos and questions that other drivers can answer.

Certainly being able to do all this from the Google Maps app and easily include a loading step in your overall navigation is a welcome improvement. Nevertheless, there are still good reasons to use other applications. For example, it is unclear whether Google Maps indicates the current use of the charger, while charging network-specific applications usually include live information indicating whether a car is already connected or not.

Other applications, such as PlugShare, have been illustrated by offering complete filtering options. This may include a limitation of locations depending on the type of charger – important if you have, for example, a car using a J-1772 jack, because you can not use it with a Tesla Supercharger -, as well as their price (paid or free) or in restricted areas.

Nevertheless, this new integration of Google Maps could change the game for drivers of electric vehicles. This is particularly the case when you consider that, with iOS 12, Google Maps is now available in Apple CarPlay. This could make it easier to find a public charger for using the native navigation system of your hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle.