In the near future the popular application Google Maps, used by many Italian motorists to find the shortest journeys and to reach the desired destinations, will have a route variant called eco friendly, specially designed to allow the car to consume the least possible amount of fuel.
The update, dedicated in particular to cars with engines petrol and diesel, will therefore give an ecological soul to the application that is used today in place of the old and analogical geographical maps. It will be based on a new algorithm of its artificial intelligence based on data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the US Department of Energy. However, the feature could also be adapted to Europe with introduction in 2022.
How does it work? Google Maps it will suggest the path with less emissions analyzing road slopes, traffic congestion, the possible time difference with the ideal route. And above all the average consumption in the stretch. On the screen, on the greener road, a green leaf will appear. Google estimates that this novelty could even avoid more than 1 million tons of carbon emissions per year, which is the equivalent of 200,000 fewer cars on the road. Even if, in fact, it is an estimate that does not take into account the actual interest of the motorist to take the cleanest route rather than the fastest one. To date, Google Maps has used the fastest route by default. In this case, thanks to the options menu, each driver can choose whether to rely on the classic view or the more eco-friendly one.
Alongside ecological navigation, a light version will also appear for cyclists, who over the last year have increased the use of the application during their journeys. The idea is to give those who ride only the information necessary for the route, with a simplified interface, to avoid dangerous distractions.