Apple is adding electric-vehicle routing to maps app

23 / 06 / 2020

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If you drive an electric vehicle, making sure you have enough charge to complete a road trip usually involves reliance on the automaker’s built-in navigation. Unfortunately, some OEM navigation systems can be lacking compared to offerings from Apple and Google. Fans of Apple Maps learned today that they will soon be able to use the navigation system they prefer when driving an EV, to which we say: Your move, Google.

At its annual World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, Apple announced an upcoming update to the Maps app coming with iOS 14 this fall. With the new operating system, the maps will include EV routing based not only on the vehicle you’re in but also the environment in which you’re driving. Apple is currently working with Ford and BMW on electric-vehicle integration and said that it’ll be adding many more automakers in the future.

For those using Apple CarPlay in iOS 14, the phone-based infotainment system will include features for finding parking and charging the EV, and it will also have a new feature that gives the iPhone the ability to act as a key to unlock and start vehicles that support it. Currently, it only works with the 2020 BMW 5-series but Apple says more vehicles will be added soon. Apple also says it will be adding information about congestion and green zones for drivers so they know when and how much it will cost to enter these areas.

iOS 14 will be available for the general public this fall. But a public beta version of the operating system will be available next month for those willing to accept the potential for bugginess in the earliest versions.