Ford Gets Tesla-Like Charging Navigation with Help from Google

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5 years in the past, there weren’t many good electrical car choices in the marketplace within the US. As we speak, there are dozens. You now not have to purchase a Tesla to get an electrical automotive with good vary, actually quick charging, and good tech and options at a good worth. You may even now get non-Tesla EVs which have entry to the huge, tremendous dependable, and simple to make use of Tesla Supercharger community. Nevertheless, one of many massive benefits Tesla has retained, for my part, is a a lot superior navigation system for lengthy street journeys that features nice integration of charging stops. Till now.

Ford has labored with Google to supply one thing that sounds precisely like what Tesla has in its navigation system. Right here’s what Anthony Phillips, Product Supervisor at Ford, wrote yesterday in a LinkedIn post:

“We’re rolling out a software program replace to Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E electrical automobiles that allows EV routing for Google Maps via Android Auto, plus a few surprises.

“We first introduced at CES 2024 that this replace will present electrical car prospects with an estimated battery degree upon arrival at a vacation spot, counsel charging stops alongside the best way and even estimate how lengthy charging will take based mostly on dwell info from the car.

“The replace additionally permits Android Auto prospects to view suitable Tesla Supercharger areas to cost at with an adapter, whereas driving in a Ford electrical car and utilizing Google Maps. This contains enroute preconditioning of the battery when navigating to a DC quick charger and with the ability to see accessible chargers alongside the route.

“Our workforce noticed a possibility to supply prospects with an end-to-end EV routing expertise in Google Maps, and we’re proud to work with Google to make it occur. To expertise this firsthand, drivers who’ve acquired the Ford software program replace ought to obtain the most recent model of Google Maps to their smartphone and pull up the app in Android Auto.

“Special thanks to all who were involved: Sena Hermiz, Dyuti Chakravarthy, Erik Biberstein, James Graham, Manu Paul, Surendar Gupta, Sandeep Kumar Shaw, Adam Diehmand many others!”

In fact, I’d have to check the system to see if this works in addition to Tesla’s system, however it’s the identical thought. Every thing described above is how Tesla’s navigation system works, and it makes street journeys far simpler than even in a gas-powered automotive. I as soon as drove a Tesla Mannequin S from Poland to Paris, and it was the best lengthy street journey I’ve ever taken. We didn’t should suppose or search for a spot to tug over and gas up in any respect. We simply needed to comply with the navigation, which introduced us to charging stations as wanted. We sometimes stayed a bit of longer than we have been presupposed to (from the fundamentals of utilizing the toilet, grabbing meals, getting espresso, stretching, and many others.), after which the automotive would simply modify the route as wanted to cost much less typically or to cost much less on the subsequent cease.

Anyway, it’s great the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E will now have the same characteristic. I think about it would assist many Ford drivers significantly, and also will assist to stimulate extra EV gross sales.