ROME – Only for electrics. It is not a summer lie due to the heat: Google Maps is perfecting the app, and has integrated a functionality still in beta that could change everything: it is testing a specific route planner that takes into account whether the vehicle is electric or hybrid.
This latest update incorporates a feature that takes the vehicle’s propulsion system into account for route planning, which will allow users to achieve “fuel efficient routes adapted to your vehicle’s engine type”. It’s unclear how Google will make this work, but hybrid cars tend to be more efficient at low speeds, so this Google Maps feature could plan your route around the fastest highways.
For electric cars, the app may highlight routes with charging stations along the route. The details are not yet known, but it would be logical to take into account the autonomy of the vehicle and how many stops are required to recharge the battery and complete the journey. A twist to this feature would be that it also shows whether the charging points are occupied or vacant, making it even easier to travel by road with an electric vehicle.
At the moment, this feature is still being tested in a beta phase. The idea is to implement it in the Google maps application in the future, but at the moment the exact dates are not known, although some reports suggest that we will be able to see and experience it for the first time in a few weeks.