Unless users opt-out, the default route will be the
"eco-friendly" one if comparable options take about the same time,
Google said. When alternatives are significantly faster, Google will offer
choices and let users compare estimated emissions.
"What we are seeing is for around half of routes, we
are able to find an option more eco-friendly with minimal or no time-cost
tradeoff," Russell Dicker, a director of product at Google, told reporters
on Monday.
Google said it derives emissions relative estimates by
testing across different types of vehicles and road types, drawing on insights
from the U.S. government's National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). Road grade
data comes from its Street View cars as well as aerial and satellite imagery.
The potential effect on emissions from the feature is
unclear. But in a study of 20 people at California State University, Long
Beach, university researchers last year found participants were more inclined
to consider carbon emissions in route selection after testing an app that
showed estimates.
Google's announcement included additional climate-focused
changes. From June, it will start warning drivers about travel through low
emissions zones where some vehicles are restricted in Germany, France, the
Netherlands, Spain, and the UK.
In the coming months, Maps app users will be able to compare
car, biking, public transit, and other travel options in one place instead of
toggling between different sections.
0 comments:
Post a Comment