Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Maps will soon show public transport and walking suggestions next to car routes, where travel times are comparable and practical.
- Search expands the ability to find long-distance rail line information and adds support for buses.
- Maps will also introduce some features to help you find chargers for your EV.
Google is introducing a number of new features to Maps and Search. These new features are focused on making sustainable travel easier for everyone.
Today, Google announced that several updates to Maps and Search are coming soon. These features range from eco-friendly travel suggestions to electric vehicle (EV) charger placement and more.
One of the upcoming updates to Maps will help users find alternative travel options with a lower carbon footprint. The feature, which is said to be rolling out in the coming weeks, will see Maps show public transport and walking suggestions next to car routes. The feature will be available in 15 cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Montreal, Paris, Rome, and Sydney.
In this context, Google has announced that it will expand its search functionality, allowing users to view schedules, tickets, and links to complete reservations on long-distance rail route results pages. The feature will be available in 38 countries including Australia, Japan, and Greece. In addition, the company has also added support for long-distance bus travel, which will be available below.
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Poland
- Spain
- Sweden
- ukraine
- England
- we
When it comes to flying, Google makes it easy to see the carbon footprint of your flight. The company plans to make its Travel Impact Model (TIM) insights, which provide emissions estimates, available as a developer API that can be applied to any website or app. It will also be available as a Google Sheets add-on and calculator on the TIM website.
Moving on to EVs, Maps has added some features to help you find chargers. Google says that in the coming months, the app will begin displaying AI-powered summaries that describe the location of chargers in areas such as multi-storey parking garages. On top of that, Google is adding the ability to display chargers on the in-car map, along with information like real-time port availability and charging speed. This will be rolled out around the world in the coming months, starting with Google-powered vehicles.
The last two features deal with planning your trip in an EV. Last year, Google debuted a feature that incorporates Google to show drivers the best places to charge their EVs. The company is currently expanding its capabilities for multi-stop trips. Google.com/travel will now show hotels that offer EV chargers.
These features are a welcome addition to Maps and Search if you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint.
