Green routing is already an option on some navigation systems, which can calculate the way to a chosen destination using the least amount of fuel.
Factors such as hills, sharp bends, start and stop sequences, traffic lights and speed changes are known to impact fuel efficiency and are taken into consideration using information on the digital map in the Sat Nav.
Tests have been carried out comparing 'greenest routes' to the traditional 'fastest routes' option calculated in several cities and urban areas.
Using the 'greenest route', there was at least a 5% fuel saving per trip and often more.
Reducing fuel consumption does reduce emissions and saves money.
In fact, using Sat Nav has quite a significant impact even without the latest 'green' feature.
NAVTEQ's findings suggest that regular use of Sat Nav can reduce annual distances driven by around 2,500kmand reduce fuel consumption by 12%.
It also means a cost saving of around €400 per year.
Research into the benefits of green driving found that the estimated fuel savings varied from 5-15%.
