Google Maps will soon direct you into more eco-friendly routes

Gadget Insights: Your Google Maps may soon start showing you routes that apparently have low carbon emissions based on the traffic present in a particular along with other parameters that Google Maps may use to estimate the carbon levels present in a particular route. The first of its kind of feature will first launch in U.S by later this year.

As usual like how Google Maps show options of routes that are faster to slower, it will now feature the eco-friendly routes and it will be let to the users to choose between the eco-friendly routes or the fastest routes to their destinations. For more than half of the routes, Google Maps may be able to find an eco-friendlier alternative one, says Russell Dicker of Google.

Google Maps will take information on emissions from the traffic levels in a particular route and even from U.S government’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). Though it will be too early to predict now about the effect on emissions this will leave, a study made in California State University showed that commuters are willing to take carbon emission as a factor in selecting their routes.

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As an effort to control carbon emissions several countries designate a certain car-free day in a week or month. They also designate certain places in the map, as a low-carbon emission zone where potentially large emission vehicles are not allowed. Google said that they have taken this as well in consideration in designing this feature.

Google Maps may also show commuters low-carbon emission zones and will re-route them away from the low-emission zones. This feature is set to roll out in June in countries like Spain, Netherlands, U.K, France and Germany. Also, users might be able to compare suitability between various commuting options along the same route, without having to toggle.