Three new Google Maps updates have been announced to help lower emissions and provide people with greener choices when getting from A to B.
Google has announced that, thanks to AI and insights from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), eco-friendly routing is rolling out now in the U.S. on Android and iOS, with plans to expand to Europe and beyond in 2022. Now, in addition to showing the fastest route, Google Maps will also display the one that’s most fuel-efficient.
Google estimates that eco-friendly routing has the potential to prevent over one million tons of carbon emissions per year — that’s the equivalent of removing over 200,000 cars from the road.
“Not only does Google Maps’ eco-friendly routing bring NREL’s fuel-efficient technology from the lab to the road, but it has huge potential to significantly lower emissions and save drivers money on gas — something that’s good for both people and the planet,” said Jeff Gonder, Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences at NREL.
Lite navigation for cyclists is the second update, which is coming soon. According to Google, over the past year, the use of biking directions on Maps have increased by up to 98 percent in cities around the world — making it clear that people are opting for two-wheeled transportation. With lite navigation, cyclists can quickly see important details about their route without needing to keep their screen on or enter turn-by-turn navigation. They can also see trip progress and ETA at a glance.
The third update is bike and scooter share information, which is now in over 300 cities around the world on Android and iOS. From Google Maps, users can find nearby stations and pinpoint how many vehicles are available at that moment in places like Berlin, New York, São Paulo and Taipei. When they have finished with the vehicle, users can make sure there’s a place to park before heading to the station.
