Google Maps Working on Offering Fuel-Efficient Routes for EVs, Hybrids
Google Maps is working allowing users to switch between different types of engines.
According to reports, Google Maps is working on a feature that will show users energy-efficient routes while navigating to their destination based on the type of engine in their vehicle. Last year, the tech titan announced that its Maps app would provide navigation via fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly routes. While the number of electric vehicles (EV) in the United States continues to grow, Google Maps currently offers the same routes for EV and ICE vehicles. However, because both engines behave differently, a fuel-efficient route for an ICE vehicle may not be as efficient for an EV, and vice versa.
According to 9To5Google, the company is developing a Google Maps feature that will allow users to switch between engine types, providing directions to their destination via the most fuel-efficient route. The new feature was discovered in the code of Google Maps’ latest beta update version 11.39, but it is currently unavailable to users.
Google introduced a feature last year that allowed vehicle owners to choose the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly route. However, the service does not display routes based on vehicle type, instead providing users with a single fuel-efficient route from point A to point B for all vehicles. A fuel-efficient route for an ICE-powered vehicle may not be as efficient for an EV or a hybrid vehicle. While the report mentions the existence of strings implying a “choose engine type” option, it does not specify which engines will be supported.
Google announced in June that Android and iOS users in India, Indonesia, Japan, and the United States would be able to get an estimate of the toll price for nearly 2,000 toll roads via the Google Maps app. According to the company, the feature will also consider whether or not there is a toll, the day of the week, and the time of crossing the toll to provide an estimate.