Drivers Save Money With New Green GPS Technology

Computer scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a global positioning system that not only calculates the shortest and fastest routes, it also projects the most fuel-efficient route.

Built to run on today’s internet connected smartphones, the “Green GPS” links to the car’s onboard computer using an inexpensive, off-the-shelf wireless adapter.

The car’s onboard diagnostics system uploads information about engine performance and fuel efficiency to the phone, which uses the data to compute the greenest route.

In preliminary experiments, researchers were able to show that following the suggestion of Green GPS saves 13 percent more fuel over the fastest route and 6 percent over the shortest. The initial test was conducted on 16 cars of various types that collectively drove for 1,000 miles in Urbana-Champaign, a city of 170,000.

“Currently at least 30 percent of total energy in the United States is spent on cars,” said Principal Investigator Tarek Abdelzaher, associate professor of computer science and researcher in the Coordinated Science Laboratory. “By saving even five percent of that cost, we can save the same amount of total energy spent on the nation’s entire information technology infrastructure.”

The Green GPS units will be installed on up to 200 fleet vehicles used by the Urbana-Champaign campus, including full-size vans that often carry 1,000 pounds or more in tools and equipment.

Abdelzaher hopes that by collaborating with IBM, the University’s Green GPS research will eventually be tested in heavily urban areas with greater stop-and-go traffic.

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Image Credit: University of Illinois

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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KS G.

6:42PM PDT on May 13, 2011

Thanks for the article.

send a green star

Manuela C.

12:14PM PDT on May 10, 2011

Neat!

Grace A.

2:36AM PDT on May 10, 2011

I don't drive. But if saving money is motive for reducing pollution--it works.

Rosie L.

3:50PM PDT on May 9, 2011

interesting thanks

Donald D.

1:48PM PDT on May 9, 2011

Just the loss of arguments between the driver and the map reader alone is worth the cost of a GPS, and not to have to fret about where to turn, it just happens. So Cool!

Kate R.

9:22AM PDT on May 9, 2011

This is great, but why does everything green cost so much more money?

Robert B.

6:00AM PDT on May 9, 2011

I still don't understand why the average person needs to spend a bunch of money on a GPS system. I just look at a map if I don't know how to get somewhere and viola! It amazes me that in recent years nobody seems to be able to find their way anywhere without a GPS. I can understand certain businesses would find this useful, but the casual driver? What am I missing here?

Bernard C.

5:59AM PDT on May 9, 2011

I think I have a politician in mine - it keeps feeding me with white lies.

John C.

1:37AM PDT on May 9, 2011

http://walkit.com is even greener and gives the options of direct; less busy; and low pollution routes ...

Past Member .

9:03PM PDT on May 8, 2011

Cool :)