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5 years in the past, there weren’t many good electrical automobile choices available on the market within the US. In the present day, there are dozens. You not have to purchase a Tesla to get an electrical automobile with good vary, actually quick charging, and good tech and options at an honest worth. You possibly can 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, in my view, is a a lot superior navigation system for lengthy highway 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 publish:
“We’re rolling out a software program replace to Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E electrical autos that allows EV routing for Google Maps by way of Android Auto, plus a few surprises.
“We first introduced at CES 2024 that this replace will present electrical automobile clients with an estimated battery stage upon arrival at a vacation spot, counsel charging stops alongside the best way and even estimate how lengthy charging will take primarily based on reside info from the automobile.
“The replace additionally permits Android Auto clients to view suitable Tesla Supercharger places to cost at with an adapter, whereas driving in a Ford electrical automobile 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 crew noticed a possibility to offer clients 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 obtained the Ford software program replace ought to obtain the newest model of Google Maps to their smartphone and pull up the app in Android Auto.
“Particular due to all who had been concerned: Sena Hermiz, Dyuti Chakravarthy, Erik Biberstein, James Graham, Manu Paul, Surendar Gupta, Sandeep Kumar Shaw, Adam Diehm, and plenty of others!”
In fact, I’d have to check the system to see if this works in addition to Tesla’s system, nevertheless it’s the identical thought. All the things described above is how Tesla’s navigation system works, and it makes highway journeys far simpler than even in a gas-powered automobile. I as soon as drove a Tesla Mannequin S from Poland to Paris, and it was the best lengthy highway journey I’ve ever taken. We didn’t should assume or search for a spot to tug over and gasoline up in any respect. We simply needed to observe the navigation, which introduced us to charging stations as wanted. We sometimes stayed just a little longer than we had been alleged to (from the fundamentals of utilizing the lavatory, grabbing meals, getting espresso, stretching, and many others.), after which the automobile would simply modify the route as wanted to cost much less usually or to cost much less on the subsequent cease.
Anyway, it’s fantastic the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E will now have an analogous characteristic. I think about it should assist many Ford drivers drastically, and also will assist to stimulate extra EV gross sales.
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