Gary Zhou 
Electric car owners may want to choose Apple Maps over Google Maps after WWDC.
In iOS 14, Apple Maps will show driver routes based on the public charging stations availability. They will be personalized, factoring in the status, range and EV model of a driver’s battery.
That’s huge for journeys on the road. A drive up, say, in an electric vehicle can be stressful on California ‘s iconic Highway 1. If you run away from a charging station with juice miles off, then what?
The stress is called “selection anxiety” and many car buyers are discouraged from choosing an EV. That is not great for the atmosphere , especially given that CO2 levels hit a record high in May.
“Uncertainty around access to charging stations has hindered widespread [EV] adoption for years,” said Mathias Lelievre, CEO of sustainability consulting group ENGIE Impact. The new feature, however, “will help build the case for consumers looking to make the switch to an electric vehicle.”
Type in “EV” or “EV charging” or “electric charging station” in Google Maps and it will spit out options. But it won’t plan a route around EV pit stops.
When it comes to EV features in maps, Apple is beating Google to the punch. Both Tesla and General Motors have offered them in their EVs for years.
It’s strange that Apple Maps, the underdog navigation app, pushes Google Maps past on this. Google Maps came ahead of the curve back in 2018, when finding a charging station was as easy as finding a gas station.
In the end, Google will be integrated directly into electric vehicles. First up: the all-electric Polestar 2 of Volvo’s performance brand, due to arrive this summer.
Yet Apple Maps is the obvious option for EV users, before Google steps up its game.
Overall, the feature is a step towards getting the “EV adoption that we all want collectively,” said Matt Stevens, vice president of electric vehicles at Geotab, a fleet management firm. It will be especially useful for drivers who will not be able to charge their EVs at home.
The latest Apple Maps will arrive in July as part of the public beta for iOS 14, and a wide release in the fall.
Reported by Mashable.
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