- Electrify America is now posting live updates about its DC fast chargers on Google Maps.
- EV drivers can use the navigation app to find available chargers.
- This way, owners don’t have to jump from one app to another when planning a trip.
Electrify America, one of the largest operators of electric vehicle fast chargers in the United States, is now offering real-time charger availability updates on Google Maps. The feature, which is meant to make life easier for EV owners, went live earlier this week.
By adding up-to-the-minute charging availability information to Google Maps, EV drivers no longer have to jump from the Google Maps smartphone app to Electrify America’s app to see if there’s an available charger at their destination.
Photo by: InsideEVs
What’s more, EV drivers who hate having hundreds of apps installed on their phone could now uninstall the Electrify America app, seeing how the company’s stalls have card readers and Google Maps can show real-time charger availability. By comparison, the number of chargers at Tesla Supercharger stations is also visible on Google Maps, but real-time charger availability is not.
By tapping or clicking on an Electrify America charging station, users can see what type of charging cables are available and how many connectors can be used. The maximum charging speed for each type of connector is also shown. EA’s offerings range from 50-kilowatt CHAdeMO chargers to 400-kilowatt dispensers with CCS cables. Some locations also have Level 2 J1772 chargers, and a handful of pilot locations have both CCS and NACS connectors.
“EV adoption is accelerating, and with it comes the expectation of a seamless charging experience, said Robert Barrosa, president and CEO of Electrify America. “By integrating real-time charging station data, we’re not just improving access, we’re empowering drivers with the confidence to go electric, knowing the information is right at their fingertips.”
Besides implementing real-time charger availability updates on Google Maps, Electrify America is working with automakers to bring Plug & Charge functionality to more EVs. This makes for a seamless charging experience for compatible cars–as long as there is a payment method set up, drivers can simply plug in and charge, and the billing will be done automatically.
Recently, Rivian announced that the R1S and R1T will gain Plug & Charge functionality at Electrify America stations through a software update. Until that happens, owners of EVs made by Audi, BMW, Ford, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche and Volkswagen can already enjoy the functionality at EA chargers.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, Electrify America operates 1,090 DC fast charging stations with a total of 5,199 DC fast charging ports.
