One of the largest concerns with electric cars is running out of power before reaching a charging station. This has become known as range anxiety.
At CES 2021, HERE Technologies, the company behind the Google Maps alternative HERE WeGo, launched a new EV Routing feature to optimize your journey.
Electric Vehicles Need Charging
Most of us are familiar with Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. The mechanical engine is powered by burning fuel. In this case, gasoline. The fuel is widely available around the world, and you can refill your car at your local gas station and immediately be on your way. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are different. These battery-powered cars need regular top-ups when the battery is depleted.
This is not a particularly quick affair, with some electric cars taking a couple of hours to recharge fully. There’s also the added complication that charging points are still relatively scarce, and not all chargers work with every car model.
Before you head out on a long journey, it’s essential to have a route plan to know you won’t be left stranded. Similarly, you still need to reach your destination promptly.
HERE Technologies’ EV Routing
HERE Technologies, a location services company, is best-known for its HERE WeGo smartphone mapping app. It’s often recommended as a Google Maps or Apple Maps alternative. Privacy-enthusiasts prefer the service as the company doesn’t collect and store as much data about your movements as the two built-in options. However, HERE Technologies’ primary business is more focused on in-vehicle mapping.
As part of the virtual CES 2021 event, the company announced its new EV Routing solution. When planning a route with HERE Technologies products, electric vehicle owners can now find the optimal route, taking into account travel time, vehicle range, and charging point locations. This is made possible due to the integration with the HERE EV Charge Points database.
The database includes vehicle brands, real-time availability of charging stations, subscription requirements, and pricing. The routing also considers the type of roads in your route, real-time traffic information, and historical traffic patterns. Similarly, it can be amended based on the weather, your driving style, and anticipated vehicle load.
Simplified Route Planning
HERE Technologies’ EV Routing is one of the latest signs that electric vehicles are becoming more popular. The combined effects of the climate emergency, COVID-19 related concerns, and EVs’ affordability have made them an attractive option for anyone looking to invest in a new car.
Although it has a slightly light-hearted name, range anxiety is an ongoing matter for EV drivers; after all, no one wants to be left stranded in the middle of their journey. Given HERE Technologies’ integration with in-car systems and its HERE WeGo smartphone app, this data-based navigation will help put electric car owners at ease.
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