Energize Weekly, October 24, 2018
Google Maps is now a guide to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in countries around the world.
A search on Google Maps in the U.S. will show the stations operated by Tesla, ChargePoint, SemaConnect, EVgo and Blink Network. The five companies account for about three-quarters of the more than 21,000 charging stations in the country.
Google Maps will also show worldwide locations for Tesla and ChargePoint, which both have stations across Europe. In the United Kingdom, maps will also include Chargemaster and Pod Point. In Australia and New Zealand, locations for Chargefox will be shown. Tesla and ChargePoint also operate in Australia.
The service, which went live October 16, will tell users, when they type in EV or ev charging, not only the closest charging stations, but information about the business where the station is located, the types and number of ports available, and the charging speed.
There will also be information about the stations from drivers, including photos, ratings, reviews and questions.
“We built Google Maps to help people get where they need to go no matter what mode of transportation they use,” Andrew Foster, group project manager for Google Maps, wrote in a blog announcing the service.
The addition of charging stations was welcomed by the charging companies, which see the map service as a boost to business. “Adding EVgo’s fast charging stations to Google Maps helps us reach more drivers as we continue to expand our ever-growing network,” Jonathan Levy, EVgo’s vice president of strategic initiatives, said in a statement.
