Google Maps to launch eco-friendly routes for drivers

Google Maps is using insights from the US Department of Energy to build a new routing model that aims to choose routes with lower fuel consumption.

The app will use factors like road incline and traffic congestion to help identify the most eco-friendly route.

Google said that soon its Maps platform would default to the route with the lowest carbon footprint when it has approximately the same estimated time of arrival as the fastest route.

When the eco-friendly route increases the arrival time, the app will let users compare the relative CO2 impact between routes so they can choose.

Eco-friendly routes will launch in the U.S. on Android and iOS later this year.

Google said that it plans to make the new feature available to other global destinations as part of a worldwide expansion.

The tech giant also revealed plans for an indoor navigator feature called Live View.

The platform will use a technology called global localisation which uses AI to scan tens of billions of Street View images to understand your orientation.

“Thanks to new advancements that help us understand the precise altitude and placement of objects inside a building, we’re now able to bring Live View to some of the trickiest-to-navigate places indoors: airports, transit stations and malls,” said Dane Glasgow, vice president of product, Google Maps. “If you’re catching a plane or train, Live View can help you find the nearest elevator and escalators, your gate, platform, baggage claim, check-in counters, ticket office, restrooms, ATMs and more.”

Indoor Live View is currently available on Android and iOS in a number of malls in Chicago, Long Island, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.

Google said it will roll out the feature in select airports, malls, and transit stations in Tokyo and Zurich, over the next few months.

The company will also expand this service to other cities.

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