Google Maps will now start Directing People to Eco-Friendly Routes
Through Google Maps, now, drivers can follow the eco-friendliest routes based on numerous factors. Google said it would highlight the journey that would generate the lowest carbon footprint through traffic data and road inclines.
The search engine also added that the Google Maps feature would be launched in the US, at first, later this year, and then it would move forward with the global expansion. Google’s aim to release this feature is part of its commitment to fight climate change.
What is the Eco-Friendly Feature in Google Maps
The eco-friendly route feature in Google Maps are those routes on the map app that would be eco-friendly; users can also opt out of this feature. This feature would improve significantly faster ways that would give the user to choose and compare estimated emissions.
The director of product at Google, Russell Dicker, said that they’re seeing around half of the routes and are on the way to find an eco-friendlier option with no time or minimal cost trade-off. Google, who owns Alphabet, said that they would use emission data based on the tests performed across numerous cars and road types and pull out insights from the US govt. NRELL (National Renewable Energy Lab).
The factors in slopes and inclines for road data would be pulled out through Google Map’s “Street View” cars feature along with satellite and aerial imagery.
Siddharth Pathak, the partner at consultancy firm Kearney, said that the feature is an excellent example of three trends- data, sustainability, consumer choice, that would come together. He added that it would even push those on the fence to calculate speed over cost and sustainability.
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The Zone Warnings
Starting June, Google would start warning drivers who are supposed to travel through low emission zones and where some vehicles are restricted. In countries such as Germany, France, Spain, UK, and the Netherlands, these restrictions are common.
Google said that from Amsterdam to Jakarta, many cities worldwide had established low emission zones, such as the areas that have restricted polluting cars, that would help them keep the city clean.
They added in their blog post that for supporting the cities’ efforts around the world, Google is working on alerts that would help drivers understand properly about navigating through the low emission zones.
Google’s Map’s new feature that is expected to launch this year would enable comparison between cycling, car, public transport, and other travel options in one place. Google has said that it has long developed a sustainable practice that would benefit the government, pledging to be carbon-free by 2030. They would also help cities to track greenhouse gas emissions.
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