Back in 2021, Waze had tried briefly to add charging stations to its maps, but pulled them out after a few weeks.
Waze is owned by Google.
It will be easier for EV owners to find charging stations on the road with the Waze app.
For most EV owners, battery recharging is done through the personal charging station at home. However, some road users spend hours behind the wheel and need to recharge their vehicle occasionally, especially on extended trips away from home.
But finding a charging station with in-vehicle applications is not always easy. In fact, it’s all a matter of taste. Some drivers use the built-in system, while others prefer to rely on applications on their smart phone, such as Waze.
And for those who prefer Waze to find the next charging station, the user experience has just been improved. Indeed, charging stations have just been added to the planning tools of the company which is owned by Google.
Users of the application, which is known for its speed trap alerts, can now enter the information specific to their vehicle, but also the type of charging stations they prefer. Waze will thus be able to better find the nearest charging stations along their route. These improvements will be gradually integrated globally in the coming weeks.
It will be interesting to see how this new feature will be received by users, as in 2021, Waze tried the same type of exercise – on a smaller scale it must be said – before withdrawing the option a few weeks later. This time, it would be the right one if we are to believe the answer of a Waze representative during an interview with the website TheVerge.com.
Moreover, according to the website, some users were directed to traditional gas stations where there were no charging stations on site.
Waze will also continue to use its crowdsourcing model to improve information about charging stations and any other roadside pitfalls.
“Charging station information is often inconsistent, outdated or unreliable, creating a major pain point for EV drivers who may navigate to a charging station only to discover they can’t find it or use it. By adding up-to-date EV charging information to the Waze map, it’s even easier to charge your car and get help finding where or when you’ll come across the next station.,” Waze said on its blog.
On that note, you should know that Google also recently updated its Google Maps app, including whether the charging station is in use. In short, with more and more electric vehicles on the roads around the world, it’s no wonder that the navigation app field is booming, and it’s only the beginning.
