- EV route planning in Android Auto is getting a smart update
- It is rolling out to 350 makes and models of electric vehicles in the US.
- Changes are also appearing in the way media autoplay works.
If you use Android Auto inside an electric vehicle, route planning becomes significantly smarter and more personalized, while there are also signs that the Android dashboard will improve the way audio autoplay is handled.
First up is EV route planning, which is powered by artificial intelligence and will provide charging recommendations based on the make and model of your car and how much battery life you have left. Google says the update applies to more than 350 electric vehicles with Android Auto available, across 16 brands.
While basic searching for EV charging points was already available on Google Maps and Android Auto, now the software will be able to leverage what it knows about the EV you’re in to suggest where you need to charge and when, taking into account the duration and destination of the trip you’re about to embark on.
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Android Auto will use its artificial intelligence algorithms and calculations about the weight and size of your vehicle’s battery to give you the best route and charging options. These details will be combined with regular Google Maps data, including real-time information about traffic, road elevation, and weather conditions.
Autoplay notices
To take advantage of the new route planning features for electric vehicles, you must first tell Google Maps about your car. From your phone app, tap your profile photo (top right), then Settings > Your vehicles to enter details below Engine and Vehicle.
When you plot a route in the Android Auto panel, you’ll be able to set the initial battery level. Google says the feature is now rolling out to models from Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, FIAT, Genesis, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Lexus, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen, though it’s only in the US for now.
Our other Android Auto tidbit is something that has been spotted by Android Police. It seems that if you quickly stop media autoplay on the dashboard three consecutive times, you’ll be asked if you want to turn off autoplay via a pop-up alert, so that the next time Android Auto connects, nothing will start playing right away.
This behavior can already be controlled via Android Auto on your phone (on Pixel devices it is under Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Android Auto), but it’s a switch that many users may have overlooked. The new message makes it a little easier to turn off autoplay if you want.
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