The change was first reported by The Verge and has since been confirmed by Google. The company said that the change was made "to help people get the most relevant information when navigating."
Google Maps already has a number of features to help EV owners find charging stations, including the ability to search for charging stations by location, type, and availability. The company also recently added the ability to add charging stops to a trip itinerary.
The change to demote gas stations in the "Points of Interest" category is a further step by Google to make it easier for EV owners to find charging stations. It is also a sign of the growing popularity of electric vehicles.
In the United States, the number of electric vehicles on the road is expected to grow from 1.2 million in 2021 to 22.6 million in 2030. This growth will put a strain on the existing charging infrastructure, so it is important for companies like Google to make it easy for EV owners to find charging stations.
The change to Google Maps is a positive step in this direction. It will help EV owners find charging stations more easily and make it more convenient to own an electric vehicle.