Apple adds EV route planning to Maps, digital car keys to Wallet app

At Apple's online Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), anyone with an electric vehicle noticed a new feature coming in iOS 14 that's similar to Tesla's mapping tool: EV routing.

There's another feature announced Monday that'll be familiar to Tesla owners. Apple is adding keyless entry with CarKey, a digital key kept in Apple's Wallet app, so you can use the phone to unlock and start your car. It's coming first to the 2021 BMW 5 Series.

But first, in the revamped App Maps app there's a new setting to see where you can charge up at public charging stations for an EV that doesn't care about nearby gas stations. It's like planning where to gas up, but with electricity. This is especially useful for longer trips that'll drain the battery before arriving at your destination.

The trip planning takes into account your vehicle's current charge status and the available charger types — so if you're driving a Nissan Leaf it won't suggest you head to a Tesla SuperCharger station that only works for Teslas.

EV charging, served up on Apple Maps. Credit: apple

Back to the keyless entry, CarKey is similar to the process already available from carmakers' own apps, but now it's kept in the Wallet app instead of separately opening other apps. You can send a digital key to someone through iMessage. Yes, a text message. If your phone is lost or gets in the wrong hands, you can turn off access to vehicles through iCloud. You can also remove access to someone you let borrow the car once it's returned.

For certain drivers, like teens, you can set key access to "Restricted Driving." That means you can limit how fast they can drive and how loud they can blast the stereo.

The NFC-powered feature lets you still turn the car on even with a low battery, for up to five hours.

BMW will be the first car to offer the iPhone key before other compatible vehicles work with the phone. To let people start using the digital keys before iOS 14 comes out later this year, iOS 13 (the latest software on your phone) will be updated to work with CarKey.

Starting next year, you won't even have to take out your phone from your pocket or bag to unlock next-gen cars.

Make a copy of your car keys. Credit: apple / screenshot

For those that use Apple CarPlay in the car to sync your phone to your car's infotainment system you'll get some new choices for the background display.