Google Maps for Android Auto gets EV charging speed and payment filters

Google Maps on Android Auto is about to get an update that should make life noticeably easier for electric-vehicle drivers. Where filtering charging stations by speed used to be tucked behind several menus, it will soon sit front and center — and a new filter for payment methods is coming along with it. It is a small quality-of-life tweak that cuts down on menu hopping and helps with on-the-go planning.

Today, filtering by power requires enabling the EV features in Android Auto settings, opening Google Maps, going into Search, choosing the Charging stations category, starting a search, and only then changing the parameters. In the Android Auto 15.7 beta, it becomes simpler: the filters appear right in the Google Maps settings menu.

A new section called EV map filters lets you pick slow charging up to 49 kW, fast charging from 50 kW, or switch to a custom mode. The expanded view adds granular steps from 9 kW to 350+ kW, and you can select several options at once.

Google is also working on a new filter type based on payment methods. It will surface stations that accept the payment service you need. The available choices depend on the country: in India, for example, Blink Network appears, while in the United States there will be Google Pay and other networks. Your preferences will save automatically so you do not have to set them up every time. That change should reduce the chance of pulling up to a charger that does not support your usual way to pay.

If you prefer the old workflow, it is not going away — filters can still be applied after you start a search.