Drivers of Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning electrical automobiles are getting extra EV trip-planning choices, through Google Maps, in Ford’s newest over-the-air software program replace.
A part of Android Auto, this characteristic makes use of car knowledge to point out an estimated battery degree upon arrival at a vacation spot, recommend charging stops alongside the way in which, and estimate the quantity of charging time wanted. The characteristic was introduced at CES 2024 in January however is now rolling out, Ford product supervisor Anthony Phillips defined final week in a LinkedIn submit.
Ford already provides Apple Maps EV journey planning, through Apple CarPlay, on the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. That system, as this Google system, faucets into the automobile’s state-of-charge knowledge and consists of battery preconditioning capabilities.
2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally
The replace additionally lets Google Maps present Tesla Supercharger stations, the place Ford EV homeowners can cost with adapters the automaker started transport earlier this yr (a few of which already have to be changed). For all DC fast-charging stations, journey planning consists of en-route preconditioning of the battery pack as soon as one in every of these stations is chosen as a cease.
This characteristic requires each the latest Ford over-the-air (OTA) replace for automobiles and the latest model of Google Maps for smartphones. As soon as drivers have downloaded each, they’ll entry EV route planning by opening Android Auto.
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Flash
Along with the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto journey planning, Ford additionally provides its personal embedded navigation options.
Google first added EV charging websites to its navigation app in 2018, however solely as factors of curiosity. Solely in early 2023 did it announce a deeper degree of knowledge on charging stations, permitting some EVs with Google built-in options to contribute state-of-charge and vary estimates obligatory for dynamic navigation with charging stops. This has been basically restricted to manufacturers utilizing Google-based infotainment programs, together with Volvo, Polestar, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC.
In the meantime, as this Ford replace rolls out, Google additionally on Friday marked the debut of latest Gemini AI-curated Maps performance, which seems to increase to route planning, and previewed it as headed into Rivian automobiles.
Google teases AI summaries in Rivian EVs
The tech big pointed to its preliminary means set as capable of generate customized visualizations referring to EV chargers, providers, and extra.
“Subsequent month, Rivian will begin utilizing this characteristic to point out summaries of eating places, retailers and supermarkets on their infotainment screens—so drivers can shortly and simply study extra about a spot,” mentioned Google.
Ford could not but remark to Inexperienced Automotive Studies on how this subsequent twist will impression the in-vehicle expertise, but it surely’s clear that it is among the many automakers aiming to supply drivers with loads of data to make highway journeys simpler.
