- Google Maps will now show Tesla Supercharger availability
- Out-of-service charging stands will be easily identifiable
- Tesla has opened its network to a number of competing automakers
Tesla owners have long benefited from the company’s mapping system, which takes live data from the vast Supercharger network and intelligently directs drivers to the nearest, fastest and most available pits.
However, as Tesla opens its network to other manufacturers, such as Ford, Kia and more, it falls to Google to offer a similar service, with the tech giant now listing live availability data for Tesla Superchargers across North America.
This follows reports earlier this month that Electrify America – one of the largest public charging providers in the US – has also just integrated its live charger information into the popular mapping app.
The presentation of this data is relatively simple. When you search for a Supercharger nearby, you now not only receive important information, such as the speed of the charger, address and contact details (if available), as well as its opening hours, but also the number of stands available.
Not only does this make it easier to plan a route, perhaps selecting charging providers with the fastest and most plentiful outlets, but it can also help when traveling, so users aren’t directed to crowded charging locations.
That said, Tesla charging stations can still only be used by vehicles compatible with the North American charging standard or via an adapter often sold separately by the manufacturer.
Good news for the United States, old news for everyone else
While Google’s recent integration is good news for electric vehicle owners in the US, it’s something that the UK, Europe and many other markets have been using for several years now.
In many markets, charging providers are required by law to share data via an open API, which allows navigation software, both on smartphones and on vehicle infotainment systems. to display this kind of information.
A quick search for “EV charger” via Google Maps in the UK, for example, will return a list of all the charging providers in the area, almost all of which will have “live” data to show how many are available – or if any are out of service.
Of course, the quality of the information Google displays depends on the data feed it uses, and from my personal experience, some top-up providers are much more reliable than others.
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp Also.
