Waze is the latest navigation app to add the ability to find electric vehicle charging stations, joining its Google stablemate Google Maps. The feature, which will be rolled out globally over the coming weeks, will allow users to input their EV and plug type, then find a suitable charger along their route.
The main difference between Waze and Google Maps’s implementation is that the former works through the phone app. You can search for stations using the mobile Google Maps app, but not along your route (only petrol stations for now)—you’ll have to have a car that has Google Automotive Services (GAS) built in to do that.
Electric vehicle charging information in navigation apps is often either outdated, inconsistent or unreliable, but Waze says its local Map Editors in its Waze Community will review and update the data in real-time, ensuring accurate, comprehensive information at all times. The company is taking a similar approach to PlugShare, an EV-focused app that also uses crowdsourced data for EV charging locations and availability.
Like Google Maps on GAS-equipped cars (like the Volvo XC40 Recharge and C40 EVs), Waze appears to be able to show chargers based on their charging speeds (Medium, Fast or Very Fast). You’ll also be able to see how many plugs are available, as well as the charging speed of each one in kilowatts.
