Google Maps recently launched a system allowing those with an electric vehicle to find available charging points in real time. The charge point networks that are included are Chargemaster, EVgo and SemaConnect. Chargepoint will be included soon.
The function was started in both the UK and US on 23/04/2019. Google's development could boost footfall at franchised car dealerships if business operators ensure that their EV charge points are listed on the app in order to attract AFV drivers to their facility.
Google commented: “If you’ve ever driven to an electric vehicle (EV) charging station only to find that all ports are occupied, you know that you could end up waiting in line for anywhere between minutes to hours—which can really put a damper on your day when you have places to go and things to do. Starting today, you can see the real time availability of charging ports in the US and UK, right from Google Maps–so you can know if chargers are available before you head to a station. Simply search for ‘ev charging stations’ to see up to date information. You’ll also see information about the station from other drivers, including photos, ratings, reviews and questions."
The function lets the user see how many ports are available at a particular location. Other details available are the location of the business, the type of charging port and the speed of charge.