Google Maps gets these 2 powerful new features
Google Maps makes it easier to plan your route before you start navigating. Furthermore, cars with built-in Google services are now equipped with electric car functions in Maps. We discuss what’s new.
Google Maps route planning
Just before you start navigating in Maps, you will first see your route with possible alternative roads. These roads are indicated with a gray color and you can choose such an alternative road if you wish before the navigation starts.
Google has now improved that system, which it announces in a blog post. You can view each step during your route on a map and you will see an arrow moving. During each step, a new alternative route may pop up for you to tap. The estimated time of arrival and the number of kilometers will then be adjusted and you can then simply start navigating.
Maps’ new route view
Google Maps for electric cars
Electric cars are the future and that’s why Google is introducing a new feature for its Maps app. This time it concerns novelties for electric cars with ‘Google built-in’. So for the sake of clarity, it is not about Android Auto, but about cars with Android Automotive or other cars with Google apps. Specifically for models from, among others: Polestar, Chevrolet, Renault, Volvo, Honda and (soon) Ford.
Google Maps can now plan charging stops for shorter journeys. After all, the navigation app knows the battery status of your car and therefore knows when charging is necessary. Maps can automatically suggest the best stops, but you can also choose an alternative yourself.
In addition, Google lets you search for extra powerful charging stations. From now on you can filter in Maps on charging stations that support 150kW or a higher capacity. Finally, Google will show in the search results for all places when there is a possibility to charge your car. So if a supermarket has charging stations, you can read that in the description.
Google Maps already announced improvements for Immersive View on Wednesday, which will now also work in Asterdam. Behind the scenes, we are also working on functions for electric cars in the Android version of Google Maps. What do you think of all the new features? Let us know in the comments.
