Google Maps: Display of fuel-efficient routes comes to Germany

Anyone who regularly travels by car can despair in view of the exorbitant rise in petrol prices and the current climate crisis. Ways to save gas when driving are just what you need – and Google is now also doing its part in Germany to ensure that drivers are more climate-friendly on the road and use less fuel.

Google is developing a special calculation model for Germany

Because recently, users of Google Maps in this country have been able to use a feature that was introduced to the map service in the USA in 2021. In concrete terms, this is the option of displaying the fuel-saving route as an option and in addition to the fastest possible route. The associated route may then increase the travel time, but ensures lower consumption.

The reason that the new feature is only now available in Germany has to do with the calculation model. Because of the different starting conditions in Germany in terms of fuel, topography and traffic patterns, the company had to develop a new model for route calculation on German roads.

Those who use the new feature can find out what percentage of fuel can be saved with the alternative route and how long the journey takes compared to the fastest route. Maps distinguishes which car you drive (gasoline, diesel, electric or hybrid). However, users can also deactivate the function completely and only have the fastest route automatically displayed. Google itself is now gradually activating the new feature for the various routes on its own servers.