Google maps, as one of the most widely used geolocation applications in the world, includes new features from time to time to improve the user’s browsing experience.
This time, the latest novelty that has been introduced is the possibility of choosing ecological and sustainable routes, as well as the least polluting.
It is designed to minimize fuel consumption and save money and therefore reduce carbon emissions in road transport, as it is the most polluting source in Europe.
For Google, the application «will allow you to define the driver’s preferences in the settings», depending on whether you want to opt for the fastest or the most ecological route (although they may coincide) that will be marked with a leaf. It will also show the approximate fuel savings and the time difference between the two trips.
To calculate the route, the driver must also select the type of vehicle engine (diesel, hybrid or electric or gasoline), since the routes with the most efficient consumption also depend on the type of engine.
Ecological routes have already been launched in countries such as the United States and Canada, where it is estimated that more than half a million tons of carbon emissions have been avoided.
Google’s new technology for cleaner mobility has been developed with the combination of contributions from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which belongs to the US Department of Energy and data from the European Environment Agency, and the driving trends from Google Maps, which has developed advanced machine learning models that have been trained with the most popular types of engines in each region.
As a sign of commitment to sustainable mobility, it also offers other sustainable mobility options to avoid using vehicles, such as bike routes, on foot or public transport.
According to the company, «The commitment between now and the end of the year is to give 1,000 million people the necessary means to make it easier for them to make sustainable choices through Google products.»