Can GPS Save Energy?

(Editor's note: This is the second in a series of posts to commemorate our new partnership with Avis by discussing driving-related topics.)



GPS devices have caught on, and it’s no wonder why. Drivers love them for their convenience: no more worrying about getting lost, no more time spent plotting routes and looking up directions. But do they have an extra benefit that most drivers don’t even think about? Can GPS devices save energy and improve the efficiency of our driving habits?



David Pogue, the New York Times’s technology blogger, thinks so. He points out that GPS minimizes wrong turns and missed exits, which cuts down on trip length, which in turn reduces the amount of time engines are running and emitting carbon dioxide. A published study on the impact of GPS navigation devices on fuel efficiency found that when drivers spontaneously choose a route almost 50 percent of routes selected were not the most fuel efficient. In addition, a car engine is least efficient when idling, so anything that prevents drivers from having to pull over and look at a map with the engine running and AC blowing is going to be good for the environment.



Even better are GPS devices that report on real-time traffic, like the where2® GPS navigation system that our new partner, Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car, offer for use with their rental cars. The same study referenced above also concluded that GPS devices with real-time traffic data, such as where2, have the potential to offer greater fuel savings in more congested areas by avoiding getting lost as well as traffic jams and road construction, reducing unnecessary driving time and thus reducing emissions.



Those who don’t want to fork over money for a GPS device can benefit from plotting their routes ahead of time using Google Maps, Mapquest, or similar services. One thing these services could work on is offering eco-friendly mapping options that plot routes to maximize fuel economy. For instance, UPS uses mapping software that minimizes left-turns so its trucks spend less time idling at stop lights. Mapping software systems could also take into account acceleration and braking effects on fuel economy.



Here’s another idea: GPS devices that tell you your mileage in that crisp British accent they all seem to use—I know I’d listen.



(Photo by qole2)