In April, Google Maps announced a partnership for its industry-leading Maps app with Chargemaster, EVgo, SemaConnect, and Chargepoint for enhanced mapping of EV charge points—a huge step in the right direction for an electrified future. One of the biggest challenges of moving from a conventional (internal combustion engine) car to EV ownership is the drastic change in the “refueling” user experience. EV owners in the U.S., UK, and China tell Strategy Analytics that many factors are crucial in deciding when and where to charge their car away from the “safe harbors” of home and work.  Availability of charge ports, types of charge ports, speed of charging, ease of use, cleanliness, and proximity to points of interest are all important. The announced updates to the Maps app, used by almost half of all Internet users worldwide, helps address many of the EV user experience issues. Google has tackled the challenge by combining and packaging multiple data sources in a way that allows EV users to search for charging stations, evaluate stations, and get directions to stations—crucially, all within the same app. A search in Google Maps for “ev charging stations” yields up-to-date information from the networks, including how many ports are currently available, along with other helpful details, like the business where the station is located, port types, and charging speeds. There is also information about the station from other drivers, including photos, ratings, reviews, and questions. With the navigation experience for EV owners currently so fractured and poorly usable, it will take partnerships like these (and many more) to improve that experience.

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