It’s a feature that should be of interest to French people concerned about their ecological footprint, and perhaps even more so to those who need to save money in light of skyrocketing inflation. Google Maps is rolling out a new feature in France and Europe this Wednesday aimed at using less fuel.
Now suggested driving directions from point A to point B will show both the fastest and most fuel-efficient route. This alternative route may take a few minutes longer, but the wallet gains can be significant. Google Maps will show the percentage of unused fuel compared to the fastest route. The driver must choose.
In a few weeks, these estimates will be even more accurate. The driver will be able to specify the type of engine: diesel, gasoline, hybrid or electric. “Diesel engines are often more fuel efficient at high speeds than petrol engines, while hybrids and electric cars perform better at a standstill.” reminds Google in a press release.
Scores born from machine learning
To produce these estimates, the American company relies on data collected by both the European Environment Agency and Google Maps; what is the average speed on such a road depending on the time of day? Is the road flat or are there hills to cross? How many red lights are there? “Combining this information, we developed advanced machine learning models that we trained based on engine typessays Google.
The California-based group launched the feature last year in North America as well as in Germany. He claims that this optionwould already result in a reduction of more than 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to 100,000 combustion engine cars taken out of circulation.»
The mapping service also continues to display journeys and their duration by public transport, on foot or by bike. Google Maps for cyclists includes new information about bike lanes, their frequency, or the presence of gradients. And Parisians can see the location of self-service bikes and scooters in real time.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.