Google Maps will take you along the least polluted route, not the shortest – tech – hybrid and electric

All roads lead to Rome, but not all roads are equally effective. Google Maps is the most used navigation app in the world. Its functionality and usability is beyond doubt. Many of us use it in our daily lives, and now important new features are being introduced. The fastest path will not be the one previously selected, but it will be from now on The most efficient way to save fuel and emissions, meaning: the least polluting.

Google is very committed to the ability of its users to reduce the consumption of their cars, whether it is electricity or fuel. The goal is to reduce the amount of emissions in our daily roads, which is why the famous navigator will now hypothetically propose the most environmentally sustainable path. Does this mean it will take longer for my flights? No.

Although Google Maps has implemented this small change, the user will still control the route. Once the destination is selected, the navigator will give us several route options (if any). The first to appear will be the least polluting, but The usual options will also be present, as the shortest route or the fastest route.

Company officials emphasized that in most ways, the fastest option and the most sustainable option will correspond, although there will be cases where this is not the case. The calculation will be made based on various parameters such as terrain, traffic, vehicle type or fuel consumption. The algorithm will take all that data, as well as the departure and arrival points, and will configure the different options for the user.

They assure Google that the change will be invaluable to the driver, and that there will be no time left in the journey, if indeed it is. For example: If you want to reach our destination, we have a highway of 13 minutes and a less polluting road as it takes 14 minutes, then Google Maps will directly recommend the most efficient route. The loss of time is minimal, but it can make a difference in terms of fuel economy and emissions reduction.

As we have already said, the browser will continue to offer the usual options. The path that is least polluted will be marked with the leaf of the tree. The user can always configure the app to display the fastest app as the default, as it has so far. For now, the change applies only to the United States. It is expected to be rolled out in Europe after a while, as it is expected to be able to work with an environmental body that can perform data synchronization with it.