Google also allows buyers to check the range estimates based on their specific driving route.

According to media reports, Google has just launched a number of updates, one of which, is to help new car buyers shop for electric vehicles.

As per reports, the new tool offers important data points such as range, tax rebates and more in hopes of allowing people to make a more informed decision while buying an electric car. While the new feature doesn't have a specific name, the tool will pop up based on the user's input. For example, while searching for "best electric cars" the tool will offer information such as price comparisons, battery range and model names. The Google tool is said to compare both federal and state tax incentives as well.

EV buyers can also check how much it will cost to charge a specific electric car and then compare that with an equivalent combustion-powered car & its fuel costs.

Google also allows buyers to check the range estimates based on their specific driving route. This showcases how much battery will remain at the end of the trip and/or how many stops are required before reaching the destination. The tool further goes on to show even the charging rate during a particular trip.

Source: CarScoops

Android Automotive OS 14 will also come with multi-screen support

According to reports, Google has announced a bunch of updates to its Android Automotive OS. The updates are expected to come soon and will focus on entertainment and communication features.

Starting with Android Auto, Google will soon be adding support for Zoom, Microsoft Teams and WebEx, allowing users to attend meetings and calls from their car. Another big update is the addition of YouTube, which should allow EV owners to pass the time while waiting for their cars to charge. Also, cars with Google built-in will now get GameSnacks, offering users to play games like Beach Buggy Racing 2, Solitaire FRVR and My Talking Tom Friends.

Other updates include a smarter Google Assistant, which should help drivers stay focussed on the road, while the voice assistant carries out tasks like responding to messages or sharing your arrival time.

In terms of navigation, Waze will soon be rolling out globally for cars with Google built-in. Users can download the app from the play store and use them, alongside Google Maps. The navigation apps will also soon be able to use the car's digital instrument cluster to offer turn-by-turn directions.

Android Automotive OS 14 will also come with multi-screen support, allowing passengers front and rear to send content from one screen to another. Also, with front passenger displays becoming more common among EVs, front-seat passengers will be able to "assist with navigation" and even choose chose entertainment options from their own screen.

Source: CarScoops

There should be an option to select only main roads for a proposed route. Many times, Google ends up suggesting the shortest route which ends up being narrow lanes or streets.

BHPian contentedbloke recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Dear all,

Most of us rely extensively on Google maps for our intercity and intracity travel guidance. While my personal experience with google maps has been largely great, there have been times where google has wrongly guided me and I wish there was something I could do about it.

Hence this post is to list down features which I think google should incorporate to improve its maps:

• There should be an option to select only main roads for a proposed route. Many times, Google ends up suggesting the shortest route which ends up being narrow lanes or streets when the main road option seems equally good or achievable. Those with large cars will appreciate this feature.
• There should also be an option where Google warns is that the roads are narrow. This is an offshoot of the previous point - sometimes, the destination route requires us to travel through narrow lanes which are more suited to bikes rather than cars and it would be good for google to warn us in advance so that we can decide on an alternative in advance.
• There should be a mechanism to immediately mark / call out a bad route so that this mistake does not occur in the future for other travellers. For example, while traveling from Bangalore to Sringeri, google suggested a short route from Belur to Jayapura - only half way we discovered that the roads were basically broken and riddled with potholes for.the entire 1 hr distance - if there was a way to inform google then and there, maybe google will not suggest this option to others as well.
• There should be a better way to guide us when we need to get on to a flyover or avoid it. Currently google uses language such as "take the slip road" or "take a slight right", without actually telling us that there is an upcoming flyover and we need to either get on it, or avoid taking it. This language is quite confusing and it would be helpful if google can be more specific.

Would request others to also post their suggestions on how to improve google maps further.

Here's what BHPian SILVER-ARROW had to say on the matter:

Have been through this situation which the OP has mentioned in point no.2. We were on a team building trip by a Bus to one resort in Pune. As usual we requested the best route on google maps and started following it. Only to realize that the road was going through narrow street at couple of locations where only single car can pass. It stuck upon us that google was suggesting the route which was for cars and we were travelling in a bus. Had to take a U-turn and closed the google maps for further directions. Took the normal highway and reached destination.

One feature I find missing on google maps in mobile is an option to drag the blue line of the proposed route and place it on other road, this feature is available on desktop. I always prefer to take route which has no bottlenecks even if it takes me 10/15 minutes more to reach a destination.

Google maps many times doesn’t show alternate route even if it is few minutes more then the proposed route. Is any Bhpian aware of this feature on Google maps in mobile?

Proposed route by Google Maps on desktop:

Manually modified route on Google Maps on desktop:

Here's what BHPian tilt had to say on the matter:

One option I would love (at least on iOS, maybe it's already there on Android) is to download offline maps for a specific route instead of picking all the squares manually and downloading them.

Re. OP's points 1, 2 qnd 3, there already is. The problem happens because all two-wheller people merely select destination and go. If they took a second more to select "Bike" as their mode of transport and then drive it would help car people.

Alternatively this will never happen) Google should keep Bike as the default mode of transport and car-people should manually select car.

Here's what BHPian ruzbehxyz had to say on the matter:

All the points mentioned in the previously mentioned posts are acceptable. On the other hand please note:

• Google maps is free and we must appreciate whatever google is giving us.
• Our country has still not given us Indian based maps even in 2022 and we are still relying on a foreign company. (Map my India is private).
• It’s very difficult for Google to update their maps continuously in a developing country like India where new roads are built by the hour. About 30 - 40 kms of National highways are built per day. A typical example is the Samruddhi expressway. It was opened and Google took some time to update the maps.
• Because of this technology, the present generation has lost the sense of direction and cannot actually read physical or paper maps because we totally rely on what the software says and blindly follow it.
• Google maps has one of the best features like offline maps where you can download particular maps and navigate using your phones GPS only without internet. Very useful in areas where you don’t have internet.
• Many Gmaps users blame the software but do not do some research before venturing in to a new place. Satellite mode is one way to check and plan your route and follow as per your wish.

Let me explain by an example:

You want to go from Himmatnagar to Ajmer on NH48 (old NH8), then you have to go through Udaipur. Google will take the shortest route and route you through the city which can be crowded and take more time. The alternate is the route marked on the right.

You can use ‘Add stop’ feature and just randomly select a spot on your route and then drive or physically pin a spot on the map:

Above is just an example and most people are aware of this.

Concluding this, there are still some Social media forums who abuse Gmaps sarcastically, even though they still use the base of Gmaps for their own so called maps and some of the members still drive Amrikan cars.

Above all let’s appreciate what we are getting for free and which has actually become part of our lives like some other apps eg. WhatsApp.

Here's what BHPian binand had to say on the matter:

I use Google Maps for two things:

• For navigation.
• To familiarise myself with the places I'm reading about (most recent was the description in a book of the drive from Miami to Key West via the Overseas Highway; it was fascinating).

Navigation use is almost entirely via Android Auto. And in this Google fails in a lot of areas (several failures are intentional I think). All of these fall under the broad heading of "Hey Google, I know this route better than you; you have to only watch the traffic condition". So:

• If I deviate from your selected route, respect my choice and reroute me. Don't try to find newer and innovative ways of pulling me back to your original chosen route.
• If you find a "faster route" just inform me and when I ignore you, sulk - but don't automatically reroute.
• Give me an option to pin my drive via a route - which is a directive to you to stay on that route and not even look if alternatives exist.
• Inform me well in advance of congestion, and not after you've made sure I've passed past all possible alternatives.
• I have disabled "Avoid tolls" for a reason. You don't have to show me toll avoidance dirt roads each of which would add 1h+ to my journey time and pollute my screen.

And my biggest problem now - please bring back the option to disable Labels (which would remove POIs, yellow/white road indicators and a bunch of other stuff from satellite view).

Here's what BHPian deep_bang had to say on the matter:

As far as point no. 3 by the OP is concerned, here is a way but right now it's too hard and as far as I know you need to come out of navigation to do this. What I prefer is a way you can mark a certain stretch of a road during navigation and go ahead and at the end of the trip (assuming you reached your destination) give other particulars required and finish the post detailing what was wrong.

Today it's just too hard to edit a mistake.

Check out BHPian commemts for more insights and information.

Google will also develop a "Digital Twin" of the car, which it hopes will help accelerate the rate of development.

According to media reports, Renault Group is expanding its partnership with Google to develop a new "Software-Defined Vehicle" (SDV), based on the tech giant's Android Automotive OS.

Reports state that the new car will have Google as its "preferred cloud provider" and will deliver continuous upgrades and on-demand services. The SDV will even allow predictive maintenance, with near real-time detection & rectification of failures. The car will also offer a personalised experience, adapting to the driver's behaviour, such as frequent destinations, EV charging stations used, and more. This personalisation of the vehicle will also help the companies to issue insurance based on the actual usage and driving behaviour of the owner.

Google will also develop a "Digital Twin" of the car, which it hopes will help accelerate the rate of development. The virtual car will allow the company to test out different features & services using its advanced AI capabilities and better integrate them into the vehicle, while also easily introducing multiple on-board and off-board applications, delivering on its promise of continuous upgrades.

The Renault-Google Alliance first started back in 2018. As part of the deal, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance integrated Google's software platform & services into its vehicles.

Source: TheVerge

Google Street View will be available in 50 cities by the end of 2022.

Google is set to launch the Street View feature in India. This service, which is part of Google Maps, will be first introduced in 10 cities.

At present, Google Street View is available in Bangalore as part of a pilot project. Soon, the feature will be available in Hyderabad and Kolkata. Later, Google will add Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Vadodara, Ahmednagar and Amritsar.

Google Street View was banned by the government of India citing security concerns. However, under the new National Geospatial Policy, 2021, local companies can collect such data and license it out to foreign companies, paving the way for Google to introduce the feature in India. This time, the company has partnered with Genesys International and Tech Mahindra.

In the initial phase, Street View will cover 1.50 lakh km across 10 cities. By the end of this year, the company plans to expand the service to 50 cities, covering almost 10 lakh km.

Google Street View offers high-definition 360-degree views of streets, tourist spots, etc. It uses panoramic and street-level 3D imagery.

The Honda Connect platform gets four new functionalities and a total of 36 features.

The Honda City sedan now gets an enhanced version of Next Gen Honda Connect, which comes with Google Assistant.

The 'Honda Action on Google' is an extension of the integrated Connected technology offered in the fifth-generation City and works with the 'Ok Google' command. The car already comes with Alexa remote capability.

The 'Honda Action on Google' tech will offer 10 voice-enabled features, that can be executed via Google Assistant-enabled devices like Google Nest Speakers, Android phones, etc. It is also supported by iOS devices. These 10 features can be used with the text-based command functionality of Google as well.

The Honda Connect platform gets four new functionalities and a total of 36 features. The new list of features includes Valet Alert, Fuel Log Analysis, Cost of Maintenance Analysis and Enhanced options for Service Products.

The I-Pace will capture air quality data in the city over the next 12 months.

The Jaguar I-Pace will be Google Street View's first electric vehicle. In addition to Street View mapping tech, the car will be equipped with sensors to measure the air quality of Dublin.

The I-Pace will be used to measure street-by-street air quality in Dublin including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and PM2.5 particles.

The car has been equipped with mobile air sensors developed by Aclima. It will capture air quality data in the city over the next 12 months. The data will be analysed by Google’s scientific research partners to develop maps of street-level air pollution.

Jaguar Land Rover engineers have worked to integrate Google Street View technology into the I-Pace. The car gets new roof mountings for the Street View camera, new rear-window glass which allows for wiring and redesigned interior switchgear to incorporate Google Street View controls.

The data collected by the I-Pace is expected to help scientists, researchers and policymakers as they study air quality and encourage people to make changes to help improve it.

Google has revealed their new 'digital car key' feature, which will allow car owners to lock / unlock their vehicles using their smartphones.

Recently, Google held its developer conference in which, it showcased a new feature called the 'digital car key'. This new feature, which will be rolled out with the upcoming Android 12 operating software, will allow users to lock, unlock and start their car with their smartphones.

While Google has not revealed the exact details of how the system works, it did state that the feature will make use of technologies such as Near Field Communications (NFC) and Ultra Wide Band (UWB). Both these technologies will allow users to just tap their smartphones over the cars' door handles, to either lock or unlock the vehicles.

Google also stated that the digital car key feature can be shared in a secure manner with friends and family, when a car is borrowed.

The company states that the digital car key will help in lightening users' pockets, removing the necessity of carrying bulky key fobs whenever heading out. However, the new feature will initially be available only on high-end smartphones from Pixel and the Samsung Galaxy series.

BMW has partnered with Google and could introduce this feature (at a premium) on a future model. However, neither Google, nor BMW mentioned the exact model that would debut this feature.

This isn't the first time such a feature has been announced. Back in 2020, Apple had announced its version of the 'Car Key', compatible with its iPhone and watch devices.

Tata Motors has partnered with Google to offer Tata Altroz Voice BoT based on the Google Assistant.

Tata Altroz Voice BoT will allow users to interact with the in-car infotainment system using voice commands. The system will require a phone with Google Assistant and can be operated by saying 'Ok Google', just like in a normal phone. The voice assistant can also be paired with the Altroz via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

The Tata Altroz was unveiled earlier this week. The car will be offered with two engine options at launch, which include a 1.2-litre petrol motor with 85 BHP / 113 Nm and a 1.5-litre diesel producing 89 BHP / 200 Nm. At launch, the Altroz will only be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Former Google engineer, Anthony Levandowski, has been charged with stealing trade secrets from Google before joining Uber. He has reportedly been fired from Uber.

The 33-count indictment is similar to a 2017 lawsuit filed by Waymo against Uber. The 39-year old engineer pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Jose, California. A preliminary bail package of US$ 3,00,000 was set along with pledging of two properties worth US$ 2 million as collateral. Another hearing has been scheduled on September 4, 2019 to set the final bail terms. If convicted, Levandowski could face up to 10 years in prison.

It is reported that Levandowski has surrendered his American and French passports and is wearing an ankle bracelet that allows authorities to monitor his movements. He is accused of stealing material related to Lidar (a sensor technology) in late 2015 and early 2016. It is said that he then left Waymo, which is owned by Google, and set up his own self-driving company, Ottomotto, which was later bought by Uber.

His lawyers have reportedly said that he was still working with Waymo when the downloads occurred and that he was authorized to use the information.

Source: Economic Times

Image Source: BBC