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Newest Google Maps Update Benefits Electric Vehicle Owners

By February 8, 2021May 11th, 2022Technology News

Android Automotive is struggling to gain widespread acceptance in the auto world, which seems strange at first glance, given how many people rely on Google Maps for navigation.

Nonetheless, a number of automakers are planning to incorporate Android Automotive into their vehicles over the next few years, so the company is slowly making headway.

Naturally, Google Maps plays an integral role in the company’s automotive platform. Given recent trends in the popularity of Electric Vehicles, the search giant has recently updated the app with some new, exclusive capabilities geared specifically toward EV drivers.

The big change here comes in the form of including battery information, both on the app display and in the route decision tree process. For example, routes that feature EV charging stations would be given preference over routes that don’t offer such accommodations to an EV driver. That is a detail which could mean the difference between making it to your destination on time or having to frantically scramble to find a charging station on a route that’s not optimized for the kind of vehicle you’re driving.

If route selection was based on just those two factors (prevailing road conditions and the availability of charging stations) then making a selection would be easy. However, there’s actually a dizzying array of other data that the map AI considers, including the type of EV you’re driving, it’s estimated range, the current amount of charge left in your battery, and the time spent recharging.

With so many factors at play, finding and recommending an optimal route can be a daunting task indeed, but the Android Automotive system does it all in the blink of an eye. They provide a highly customized, personalized route recommendation based on a wide range of factors that vary widely from one driver to the next.

This is the kind of innovation we’ve come to expect from Google. Kudos to the search giant for yet another job well done, and we look forward to seeing Android Automotive in a wide range of vehicles in the years ahead.

Jason Manteiga

Jason J. Manteiga, Vice President of Olmec Systems, has been part of the company for over the past 20 years. He believes that having a great work environment and supportive team, is the ultimate key to success. Since being in the IT realm for over 25 years, Jason, along with Olmec Systems, has been on the Inc. 5000 “List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies” and Channel Futures MSP 501 “Top Managed Service Providers in North America,” along with other awards and nominations. Jason earned his Bachelor Degree in Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He also holds certifications in Microsoft MCSE, VMWare VCP, and Cisco CCNA. In his spare time, Jason is a contributor for The Center for Social & Legal Research (Privacy Exchange) and a member of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. His hobbies include cycling and kayaking. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters and son.