Skip to main content

Thanks to Here and Hubject, you'll always know where to charge your car

here hubject charge 2016 hyundai sonata plug in hybrid charging station wide detroit auto show
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Electric cars are great and all, but if you find yourself running out of power in the middle of a barren wasteland where charging stations are scarce, you may regret your decision to go green. But thankfully, a new partnership between Here and Hubject hopes to prevent electric car owners from being left high and dry.

Electric vehicle drivers who utilize Here-powered maps, navigation systems, or apps, will “be able to access real time information of all charging stations in the intercharge network.” By bringing Hubject’s information on charging station with the Here mapping system, the European firms say it will be easier than ever for customers to not only locate charging stations, but also determine if there’s a plug available for them to use.

According to a joint press release, the partnership includes “information on charging stations across all providers, e.g. address, connector type and power, along with dynamic data on occupancy  and the availability of parking spaces in front of charging stations.” And given the ubiquity of Here (four out of every five vehicles with in-dash navigation systems in North America and Western Europe use the platform), this relationship could be a game changer for those with electric cars.

“We are delighted to welcome HERE as the market leader in mapping and navigation services to our network of partners. Both companies are committed to digitalizing mobility, and this is an ideal basis for further innovation” said Thomas Daiber, CEO of Hubject GmbH, in a statement.

Michael Bültmann, Managing Director of HERE Deutschland GmbH, echoed these sentiments, noting, “Maps and location are all about providing relevant information at the right place, time and context. By integrating information from Hubject about charging stations into our map, drivers of electric vehicles can plan their routes with more ease and confidence, being reassured to know about all charge facilities within their range.”

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
The cheapest electric cars you can buy
A Telsa Model 3 drives along a road.

To date, electric vehicles have cost considerably more than their gasoline-powered counterparts, but that’s finally changing. Every year, more and more inexpensive EVs are hitting the market and, with the help of local, state, and federal tax credits and rebates (if available), many of them now sell for well below the 2023 median car price of $48,000.

If you're a budget-conscious buyer, that number is probably little consolation. However, there are a lot of good options for closer to $30,000 and below -- if you know where to look. That's why we've put together this guide. Here's a list of the nine most affordable electric vehicles available right now, ranked from cheapest to most expensive. Note that we're only including vehicles that are available in the U.S.

Read more
You’ll soon be able to watch YouTube videos in your Android Automotive car
Android Auto in a car.

Google is making a bigger play for the in-car infotainment system. At Google I/O 2023, the company took the wraps off of a series of improvements to both Android Auto and Android Automotive, allowing those who want Google-based services in their car to get more features and better account integration.

As a reminder, the two systems may have a similar (almost identical?) name, but are actually quite different. Android Auto essentially just projects content from your phone, whether through a wireless or wired connection. It's Google's answer to Apple's CarPlay, and doesn't work without your phone. Android Automotive, however, is a version of Android that runs in the car itself, as the car's main infotainment system. It works whether you have a connected phone or not. Collectively, Google refers to the systems as Android for Cars -- yes, yet another name.

Read more
Trading in your iPhone with Apple? You’ll get less than yesterday
An iPhone 14 Pro Max with the display turned on. We see the Home Screen and Pixel Pals running in the Dynamic Island.

For the second time in two months, Apple has reduced the trade-in values of many of its iPhones and other products.

Spotted by MacRumors, the adjustments are pretty significant for some of its handsets.

Read more