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May 20, 2023

On Porsche Taycan, EV Charging Station Finder Added to Apple Maps

The software directly incorporates EV charger routing to Apple Maps within Apple

The software directly incorporates EV charger routing to Apple Maps within Apple CarPlay and can automatically suggest chargers along a given route.

Porsche has added integration for Apple Maps to include charger locations for U.S. Taycan models, giving CarPlay users yet another reason to stick with the software. The car was already equipped with Porsche's native charging planner, which can suggest stops based on information like the vehicle's state of charge (SOC), expected traffic conditions, and average speed. But the reality is that most owners seem to prefer third-party software like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As for Android, a Porsche spokesperson told Car and Driver that the Taycan does come with Android Auto capability as standard, but it doesn't have the EV SOC integration or charge stop suggestions that the new CarPlay system does.

The new integration means that Taycan owners won't need to leave CarPlay or settle for using the native navigation system when trying to map out charging stops. On top of doing a lot of the same quality-of-life things the native system does (like analyze SOC and expected traffic), the Apple system can also analyze elevation changes along a given route to get a more accurate estimation of battery usage. According to Porsche, if you allow the vehicle's SOC to deplete to a low enough margin, the new software will automatically offer a route to the nearest compatible charging station.

The system relies on both CarPlay and the information fed to it from the vehicle. That means the normal Apple Maps app on your phone won't give the same charging recommendations. The system should work with any Taycan, but according to Porsche, any models from 2021 or earlier will need to go to a service center for a free software update. Porsche also provided a link for setup and FAQs for the software, which can be found here.

Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.

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