Google Maps is certainly one of the most used map applications in the world. Tens (or hundreds) of millions of people use it every day. In September 2020, the Mountain View firm made a commitment to help these users reduce their carbon footprint and their energy consumption (fossil or electric) to make their trip. Eight months later, the firm is rolling out an update to Google Maps which will certainly help.
This update has two components. The first is the integration of energy consumption in the calculation of a path between two points. Its goal is not simply to calculate a journey and the journey time, but also to integrate an energy dimension. The degree of slope of the traffic lane, as well as the density of the traffic come into play. If going around a hill is more energy efficient than going up it, Maps will not only be able to tell you, but will favor this solution if the road is difference in travel time remains negligible. Of course, you can choose to climb the hill and turn this feature off in the settings. This function will be rolled out in the United States this year. But Google aims to give it global coverage.
PRIORITY TO MORE ECO-FRIENDLY MEANS OF TRANSPORT
The second part is the prioritization of journeys and means of transport that are more respectful of the environment. We saw it previously in the journey of a car: Maps chooses by default the route that uses the least energy . Likewise, it will prioritize means of transport with a low carbon footprint. The bike. Public transport. Walking. The electric scooter. And, in the end, if you really have no other solution… the car! The arrival of this function will arrive in the coming months, on iOS and Android.