Porsche has just rolled out Apple Maps EV functionality to its Taycan electric car. A small novelty that changes everything on a daily basis for owners of an electric car from the German brand. And that allows Porsche to get closer to Tesla on an important aspect for long journeys.
In an electric car, the planner is an extremely important tool on long journeys. It is he who will tell you when you should stop to recharge the battery and optimize the journey time. Some manufacturers do not include this essential tool in their electric cars. Porsche is not one of these manufacturers, since customers can benefit from a trip planner by default.
Car GPS vs. Google Maps and Apple Maps
But, like most cars, to use this tool, you have to use the in-car navigation. Do you prefer to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to use Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze? The in-car scheduler will then disable itself, which is totally frustrating. It will therefore be necessary to choose between a practical interface, attractive and continuously updated, without a route planner, or the manufacturer’s interface, often less reactive and less practical, but facilitating journeys by electric car.
That’s ancient history, thanks to Porsche and Apple who have just entered into a partnership, for the moment limited to the United States. The famous Porsche Taycan will integrate Apple Maps EV (Apple Maps VE in French) thanks to Apple CarPlay. In other words, route planner will now be integrated with Apple Maps in this electric car. The navigation system of the Cupertino company will therefore take into account the autonomy and consumption of the car to provide recharging stops as can be read in the press release.
A small revolution for electric cars
It may seem like a small update, but it’s a game changer for electric car drivers. This allows to take full advantage of CarPlay during a journeysince it is no longer necessary to continually switch from the car’s GPS (for the map and directions) to Apple CarPlay (for music, calls, texts, etc.).
Porsche is not the first manufacturer to integrate Apple Plans VE, however. Ford does it too, since 2022, on his Mustang Mach-e. The Ford F-150 Lightning is not yet entitled to it.
On the Android side, the situation is completely different. To be able to benefit from Google Maps with a route planner, the car must integrate Android Automotive and the manufacturer must make the link between the two. This is for example the case of Renault with the Mégane E-Tech, but also of the Volvo XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. The solution is even more advanced than at Ford and Porsche, since you don’t even need to plug in your smartphone: Android Automotive is already installed on the car.
The integration of the electric car route planner on Google Maps and Apple Maps allows manufacturers to offer an interface similar to, or even more advanced than, that of Tesla. Indeed, the firm of Elon Musk offers its customers an ultra-simple navigation system to use, with a pleasant and pretty interface, integrating the integrated planner house, which is not free from any defect for all that.
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