Android Auto, EV Battery Updates Arrive and More

Much of the automotive news coming out of CES 2024 has focused on electric cars, and Google is no exception The company announced that Android Auto will share real-time battery updates with Google Maps.

The update is expected to initially be available for the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning in the coming months, before expanding to other Android Auto-compatible electric cars in the future.

Android Auto with updates on the electric battery

With this new battery feature, Google Maps will suggest charging stations along your route without the user having to stop and search. It will also update the driver on the battery charge level once they arrive at their destination (which their electric car should already do) and provide an estimate of how long it will take to charge. This last point is more innovative and could be useful when you are in a hurry.

Google also announced the expansion of the built-in Google platform to other automotive brands, such as Honda, Nissan and Ford, after the initial launch on a Polestar. Still, the Chrome browser is now rolling out in beta on select Volvo and Polestar models (which Volvo owns) and is expected to be more widely available later this year.

In practice, owners of Android Automotive vehicles will have the web browser available when the vehicle is parked. It is a version of Chrome with a graphical and user interface very similar to the app for Android tablets, within which the user will find all his favorites and bookmarks synchronized.

Plus, built-in Google now includes The Weather Channel app to track the forecast as you travel. Technology, Vehicles, Destinations, Applications everything you need to know about the world of mobility is told in the community section of Heyupnow.