Google just announced that effective immediately, the Google Maps app will feature the most eco-friendly routes for iOS and Android users in the U.S. and it will also be launching in Europe in 2022.Drivers have always been offered route options - the fastest route, one to avoid highways, and usually an absolutely absurd route simply to show there IS another option - and now one of those will be the most fuel-efficient route, which is set as the default option.

这个新的路线选项将让司机在最快、最慢和最省油的路线之间进行选择。这显然是这个新版本的亮点，但还有更多。现在，地图将为骑行者提供一个新的“精简导航”模式，他们可能想要一些路线支持，但不希望听到“在一英里左转，在半英里左转，准备左转，并祝贺左转成功”的不断更新。Siri和Alexa很有帮助和支持，不是吗?

“The eco-friendly routing feature will always show you the fastest route — and now also the one that’s most fuel-efficient, if it doesn’t happen to also be the fastest,”谷歌地图公司运输部门高级主管拉塞尔·迪克说。“So, with just a few taps you can see the relative fuel savings between the different options, the ETA difference if there is one, and choose the one that works best for you.”

Google maps now prioritizes eco-friendly routes instead of fastest routes and includes bike routes
Bike routes are now improved in Google Maps as they add eco-friendly first options

For users who would just want to see the fastest route, you will be able to set Google Maps so that’s the only thing you will see.

谷歌计算出，这种新的路线选择可能相当于每年减少100万吨的碳排放，这相当于道路上减少20万辆汽车。这些是一些雄心勃勃的预测，他们对公众的使用做出了假设，但嘿，如果它能让人们使用它，那就太好了。这可能就是让它成为现实的必要条件。

Russell Dicker goes on to say;“What we’ve managed to do is build a number of techniques that allow us to get a lot of good options really, really quickly and at scale, because of course, everything at Google is about scale.”

The variables that go into presenting users with a more fuel-efficient route include distance, time, elevation, posted speed limits and the ability of drivers to maintain a constant speed.

The feature Google calls ‘Lite navigation’, is in response to demand from cyclists using Google Maps, Dicker said. The focus of the Lite navigation mode is to provide users with estimated arrival times, and any elevations they may encounter. Elevation is a big one for riders, at least the casual riders who are notbenefitting from the assistance of an E-Bike.
Other new Google Maps features include locations of bike and scooter sharing stations, currently available in 300 cities around the globe. All these features are a step in the right direction, and can lead tocleaner air quality and greener cities.

Now you know more about thenew eco-friendly commuting option available from Google Maps.Findmore pages about green lifestyle choicesandlow-emission commutingin these pages:

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