Google's EV Integrations for Android Auto and Maps Improve Trip Planning, Charging
Now Android Auto will be linked to your car's EV battery information and plan Google Maps routes accordingly.
Within the last decade or so the battle between Google's Android and Apple's iOS has expanded from smartphones to the automobile. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration have become significant factors in car purchasing decisions among consumers, at least, based on which platform they prefer. That being said, Apple and Google are eternally locked in a fight to gain an edge or maintain parity with the other. At CES 2024 Google struck the latest blow by announcing significant upgrades coming to Android Auto and cars with "Google built-in."
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The first major update benefits EVs specifically, as Android Auto phone-mirroring software will be able to share your car's real-time battery information with Google Maps (on the screen). With Google Maps tapped into the battery info, it will tell you your estimated battery level on arrival at your destination, suggest charging stations on your route, and will even estimate how long charging will take based on the vehicle. Teslas, for example, have such a feature built in, but many EVs do not, and the new Google upgrades will come first to the Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV and F-150 Lightning truck but will eventually make it to other vehicles.
Additionally, starting today you'll be able to send Google Maps routes from your Andorid or iOS phone to cars with Google "built-in." Those cars include the 2024 Nissan Rogue as well as the Polestar 2 and Polestar 3, though the latter two are still in "beta." The phone-to-car functionality has been a feature offered on iPhones and vehicles with AppleCar play for a while, but it's a win for Android users now that it's caught up.
While it's nice to see Android Auto get this update, Google's not stopping there. It was announced that the Chrome browser will be rolling out to vehicles with Google built-in. Passengers will be able to search and even do some online shopping via their cars' touchscreens—while parked of course. Those features won't be accessible while the vehicle is in motion. The Chrome browser is coming to Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 vehicles as a beta test for now before expanding to other cars. Apart from the Chrome broswer, PBS Kids and Crunchyroll streaming services are also coming to cars with Google built-in. The statement didn't specifically say but we have to imagine the streaming apps are also only functional when the vehicle is parked.
In response to "popular demand" The Weather Channel app is now available for cars with Google built-in. The Weather Channel app will keep drivers up to date with hourly weather forecasts and "Trip View" radar on the dashboard. That functionality should come in clutch during longer roadtrips in inclimate weather. Finally, it was teased that more cars with Google built-in will be coming from Nissan, Ford, and Lincoln models this year with Porsche models expected in the future. Though, don't expect GM vehicles to join that list anytime soon.
Andrew Beckford’s passion for cars started as a middle schooler when his friend Richie explained how an internal combustion engine works. He was bitten by the bug and the rest, as they say, is history. He dug deep into the tuner scene and eventually wrote for Turbo Magazine, Import Tuner, Super Street. He covered car shows, feature builds, and reviewed racing games for those magazines in addition to covering motorsports including Formula Drift, Indy Car, and F1 for his personal blog. Eventually Beckford joined MotorTrend to cover the daily automotive news beat. Besides being a gearhead, Beckford has been a gamer since the ’80s and is a huge fan of the arcade racing games of the ’90s like Daytona USA, SEGA Rally, and Ridge Racer. Beckford’s a movie buff as well, especially comic book films from DC and Marvel. When car culture crosses over with gaming and entertainment, rest assured Beckford is aware of it. In addition to serving as a consultant on a “triple A” racing titles, he’s reviewed major racing games such as Forza Motorsport, Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, F1, and more. He’s also interviewed blockbuster directors including Steven Caple Jr. (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) and Neill Blomkamp (Gran Turismo). His biggest profile to date was with Robert Downey Jr. on his love affair with cars and his show Downey’s Dream Cars on MAX. Beckford’s profile of Downey Jr. was the first print cover story written by an African American in MotorTrend’s history. Along with KJ Jones, Andrew Beckford also heads up MotorTrend’s celebration of Black History Month by spotlighting diverse voices in the automotive industry and motorsports. Beckford’s first car was a 1982 Nissan Stanza affectionately named “Stanley” by his late mother.
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