Google Maps recently upgraded its system to calculate the optimum route of travel for electric vehicles in light of current increases in the popularity of clean mobility.
The recent Google Maps update is reported to enable EV drivers to locate the most optimum path. This is proactive consideration of vehicle conditions, operation and duty cycles. Previously Sygic, a Slovak-based company of automotive navigation systems, and GreenWay, an EV charger company, partnered up to offer an Apps to update EV drivers on charging station .
Remarkably, the newest software can assist drivers in reducing their environmental effects because it uses algorithms created with assistance from the National Renewable Energy Lab.
It is worth noting that Google Maps has given users the option to determine the most fuel-efficient route for more than a year. The software would display a leaf icon next to the most fuel-efficient route after entering a destination.
The following are the factors incorporated into the software as listed by Google’s help desk:
- average fuel consumption in given regions
- steepness and regularity of hills
- stop-and-go traffic patterns
- types of roadways to find the most efficient path
However, it is essential to remember that the times and methods of efficiency for gas and electric vehicles greatly differ. For instance, petrol cars are more reliable at highway speeds as opposed to slower stop-and-go.
Furthermore, internal combustion engines are heat-efficient by nature, and slower speeds typically result in more stops and starts, which burn a lot more gas than constantly stable rates. In contrast, electric vehicles need more energy as they travel farther. That said, EVs were unable to receive precise, effective route estimations due to this discrepancy.
The good news is that the algorithm will now determine the most optimal route for electric vehicles by considering these variations with the recent Google Maps update.
The most effective route would have a green leaf label next to it as users choose their next destination after making the relevant settings adjustments. Notably, Google Maps typically gives a better-polished experience and a more comprehensive feature set compared to other platforms that offer the same services, such as “A Better Route Planner.”
Notably, this recent update on Google Maps’ software would greatly benefit electric vehicle users, unlike before when the app focused on conventional vehicles. Furthermore, this may signify that Google Maps will soon offer more EV features as the world transitions to electrics.
