Apple could do a better job of promoting CarPlay‘s EV integration. For a company that frequently touts its environmental efforts, there are only three tiny references to EVs on the platform’s product page, two of which are ChargePoint and PlugShare app icons. You’ll probably only discover the integration if you’re prompted to set it up, or you do a web search out of curiosity.
It’s a shame, because you absolutely need to know about these features if you own an EV now, or are planning to get one in the future. You may be joining the club sooner than you expect, given that automakers are finally introducing more affordable models to the North American market. By 2035, hopefully, it’ll feel strange to climb into a gas vehicle with your iPhone.
How CarPlay’s EV features work
Two simple yet fundamental changes
The first thing to know is that hardware-level integration with your EV isn’t guaranteed. It’s up to automakers to make vehicle data accessible in your model. You can, of course, navigate as if you were driving any other car, but you’ll be missing out on several key benefits.
What are those? The most basic is the ability to read battery level. Your iPhone can also detect what kind of charging port your car uses, essential for locating compatible stations. On some vehicles, like the 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E, an app can automatically precondition the battery as you approach a DC fast charger.
At the moment, these features are typically (if not exclusively) tied into customized EV routing in Apple Maps. When you plot a trip, the app can insert compatible charging stops based on battery levels, estimate charging times, and let you filter stations by criteria like speed and network. If need be, you can replace recommended stops by tapping on them and searching for available alternatives.
Suggested routes should also take into account temperature and elevation. That second point is more important than you might realize. EVs drive their best going downhill, as they’re not only working less, but regaining a little energy through regenerative braking. It’s not enough recharge to skip stations, mind you.
Even if you’re not embarking on an extended roadtrip, you might appreciate Apple Maps’ ability to automatically suggest a station when your battery is low. I’d recommend planning better than that — yet as the man whose Nissan Leaf was crawling into the driveway after a trip to San Antonio, I can’t judge too harshly.
Setting up EV routing in Apple Maps
Two roads diverged
Unfortunately, EV routing isn’t enabled automatically. You have to go through some basic setup steps. If you’re lucky, your car will let you do this directly through Apple Maps. When the option is available, all you have to do is launch CarPlay, choose some driving directions, then tap Connect above the list of suggested routes. You’ll be prompted if any other steps are required.
Automakers may force you to use their own app as a bridge. If so, follow these steps:
- On your iPhone, download the indicated app from the App Store.
- Open the app and locate the EV routing setup flow.
- Once you’ve completed that process, switch to Apple Maps.
- Tap your profile icon.
- Select Vehicles, then Connect Your Electric Vehicles.
Be sure to pick a preferred charging network, especially if you might pay lower rates per kilowatt. Just be aware that Apple Maps can only provide real-time charger availability for “select charging providers and countries,” as it puts it. Without that data, you’ll have to take a gamble on whether a station’s ports are free and functioning, or find an app that displays the info separately. You may have no choice but to exit CarPlay and use your car’s native station locator.
What about third-party navigation apps?
Let my people go (to the convenience store)
There’s mixed messaging out there, and Apple isn’t eager to sort it out. It would also be impossible for me to test without downloading multiple apps and booking a few test drives. The online consensus, however, seems to be that Apple isn’t exposing EV data to third-party navigation apps like Google Maps, no matter that some dealers are posting contradictory info. You might be able to enable the EV mode in Google’s software — I’d just be surprised if it gets the same telemetry as Apple Maps.
Will this become a non-issue, eventually? I assume so. Beyond the auto industry trending towards EVs, and Apple wanting to attract drivers to its ecosystem, it might risk legal trouble if it gives Apple Maps preferential treatment. It’s had to deal with antitrust concerns for everything from the App Store and Apple Books to the Apple Watch, and the cost of fighting a legal battle over CarPlay probably isn’t worthwhile. No one pays a dime to use the software.
