Google Maps EV Routing demo in Mach-E Sync 4A at CES 2024 (VIDEO)

[Mach-E VLOG]

As discussed in this thread, Google and Ford announced that EV route planning via Google Maps will be coming soon to Mach-E and Lightning owners using Android Auto. We got a brief demo of this as well as a peak at Android Automotive in the Polestar 3. And... as a bonus, you will also see the slightly updated interface on SYNC 4A with new icons at the top of the screen.

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[Nerwyn]

The new icons are an improvement! Google Maps does currently have a quick option for EV chargers along your route if you set your vehicle type to electric, but I've found that it doesn't have all the chargers that PlugShare does.

I wish Google would give us the option to make non-maps apps full screen like we could before the Sync 4A UI overhaul. And I wish Ford would let us get rid of the bottom recents area so we can make Android Auto even bigger.

 

[timbop]

I like the charger integration in maps, although I'm not sure I like the idea of google automotive essentially owning the car in the future. "Big brother" doesn't necessarily have to refer to a government, and the amount of metadata google already has (and capitalizes on) is staggering.

 

[Kmp14]

I am sure all of these features are "coming soon", especially the Sync 4A updates...2027?

 

[Earlofsandwich]

if anything i do like the look of the new icons a bit better than the stock clip art ones

 

[Gullwingdmc]

new icons at the top of the screen.

It’s great to finally see those on the Mach-E. This at least confirms we are getting them and they are not just for the Lightning.

 

[GuliblGuy]

I wish it would have shown a longer route plan where you would run out of charge and it would have to tell you where to stop to charge.

 

[su-ch+mache]

and I am missing how I can tell google maps that it is a SR or an ER or AWD or RW

 

[Mach-E VLOG]

and I am missing how I can tell google maps that it is a SR or an ER or AWD or RW

I imagine it will be very similar to Apple Maps & CarPlay setup. With that, you sit in the car and have CarPlay running. Then you can add your car to your profile.

Below is a demo of how it works with Apple Maps. Once it is connected, the car is reporting all of the essential data to Maps - battery capacity, car specs, state of charge, etc.

***THIS IS FOR APPLE MAPS BUT THE PROCESS WILL LIKELY BE SIMILAR ON GOOGLE MAPS***

 

[Aubury]

So looks like the feature is done on Ford's side (as long as the demo isn't faked). Hopefully we see it within the next few months. Though looking at the top bar there's graphical changes for the menus, which likely means more changes than just the android auto vehicle state sharing. So who knows how long it'll take Ford to actually release it. Especially since it seems like they're on an OTA release pause due to those OTAs that bricked some cars.

 

[Mache_Nor]

What about those with car play and still uses Google Maps? (It is way better than Apple Maps). And one thing I didn't catch from the video, and before; it will support precondition and small instrument cluster navigation?

 

[Dhruval Shah]

Will this update allow for battery pre-conditioning on our way to charger just like Ford's built-in navigation?

 

[Nugatti]

Turn-by-turn navigation and remaining distance doesn't appear on the instrument screen?

 

[silverelan]

Will this update allow for battery pre-conditioning on our way to charger just like Ford's built-in navigation?

Apple Maps EV routing doesn't do pre-conditioning so I wouldn't think Google Maps would enable it either.

 

[AZBill]

Google maps native to Android automotive has the charger search icon as the first one. You can filter by charging speeds and specific networks. It also preconditions in the Ultium vehicles.

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