For electric car drivers, one of the most useful features of Google Maps is the ability to find EV charging points.
To locate your nearest electric car charger, look at the categories listed under the search bar and click ‘More’. Then scroll down to the Services section and select ‘Electric Vehicle Charging’.
However, just as a diesel pump is no use to a petrol car driver, some charging points don’t work for some EVs. Helpfully, Google Maps allows you to search for the specific type of charger you need.
It is possible to go a step further, too. When searching for chargers on Google Maps, you can add the plug your vehicle needs into the preferences.
In the ‘choose plugs’ section, six different types are covered. These are the commonplace Type 2 and Tesla points, as well as CCS combo 1 and combo 2, CHAdeMO and J1772. All electric cars should be covered by these options.
Select the plugs you need and only these will be displayed when you search for charging stations. To set your plug preferences, go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Electric vehicle settings’ and then ‘Add plugs’. It’s that simple.
The result? No turning up to a charge point, only to find you can’t plug in. In addition, Google Maps can also tell you whether a charge point is currently in use.
If you have Google Maps built into your car, it can predict your remaining battery charge on arrival at the charging station – and continuously update this figure as you drive.
Google Maps is one of many aids to electric vehicle drivers. Services like Zap Map and Go Ultra Low have made it their mission to publicise the locations of chargers as clearly and efficiently as possible.
Just as many of us were loyal to certain fuel stations in our area, so too can EV drivers find ‘their’ charge points near home, work and beyond.
Learn where and when is best to go. With the continuing expansion of the infrastructure, ‘range anxiety’ should rapidly become a thing of the past.
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Besides Google Maps, several alternative apps and websites help electric car owners to locate EV charging stations nearby as clearly and efficiently as possible, including Zap Map, PlugShare, Open Charge Map, Go Ultra Low, and ChargeHub.