{"id":570745,"date":"2026-08-16T12:54:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T12:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/570745\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T12:54:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T12:54:10","slug":"turn-off-this-google-maps-feature-to-shorten-your-driving-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/570745\/","title":{"rendered":"Turn off this Google Maps feature to shorten your driving time"},"content":{"rendered":"

The main reason anyone uses Google Maps<\/a> is in-car navigation, and the app’s features definitely reflect this. Apart from CarPlay<\/a> and Android Auto compatibility, many options are geared around the fastest possible driving, or else a route that matches all your personal preferences. Hate highways or gravel roads? Google’s got you covered. <\/p>\n

Recently, though, I had my attention drawn to a feature so basic that I’ve left it on for years without thinking. I’m now deliberately leaving it active — but here’s why you might want to turn it off, especially if you’re an EV (or PEV<\/a>) owner. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"Pocket-lint\"Quiz<\/p>\n

\t\t\t8 Questions \u00b7 Test Your Knowledge
\n\t\t\t\tGoogle Maps trivia
The ultimate navigation challenge<\/p>\n

From Street View to live traffic \u2014 how well do you really know the world’s
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tmost popular mapping app?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHistoryFeaturesTechnologyMilestonesNavigation\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Begin<\/p>\n

In what year was Google Maps officially launched to the public?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tA2003B2004C2005D2006\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Correct! Google Maps launched in February 2005, initially as a desktop
\n\t\t\t\tweb application. It was originally developed by a company called Where 2 Technologies, which Google
\n\t\t\t\tacquired in 2004 before turning it into one of its most iconic products.<\/p>\n

Not quite \u2014 Google Maps launched in February 2005. It started life as a
\n\t\t\t\tproduct from a company called Where 2 Technologies, which Google snapped up in 2004 and rapidly
\n\t\t\t\tdeveloped into the mapping service we know today.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Which company did Google acquire to help build the foundation of Google Maps?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tAMapQuestBWhere 2 TechnologiesCNavteqDTeleAtlas\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Correct! Where 2 Technologies, an Australian startup, was acquired by
\n\t\t\t\tGoogle in October 2004. The small team had built a desktop mapping application that impressed Google
\n\t\t\t\tenough to buy the company and use it as the backbone of what became Google Maps.<\/p>\n

The right answer is Where 2 Technologies, an Australian startup acquired
\n\t\t\t\tby Google in October 2004. MapQuest, Navteq, and TeleAtlas were all real mapping companies, but it was
\n\t\t\t\tWhere 2 Technologies whose core technology directly evolved into Google Maps.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

In what year did Google introduce Street View to Google Maps?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tA2006B2007C2008D2009\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Correct! Google Street View launched in May 2007, initially covering
\n\t\t\t\tfive US cities including San Francisco, New York, and Las Vegas. It used a fleet of specially equipped
\n\t\t\t\tcars with panoramic cameras to capture 360-degree ground-level imagery.<\/p>\n

Street View actually launched in May 2007, not quite when you guessed.
\n\t\t\t\tIt rolled out across five US cities at first \u2014 San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, and Denver \u2014
\n\t\t\t\tusing specially built camera cars to capture immersive 360-degree street-level imagery.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

What programming technique did Google Maps pioneer that made maps feel smooth and
\n\t\t\t\t\tinteractive without full page reloads?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tAWebSocketsBFlash animationCAJAXDJava applets\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Correct! Google Maps was a landmark example of AJAX (Asynchronous
\n\t\t\t\tJavaScript and XML) in action, allowing map tiles to load dynamically as users panned and zoomed without
\n\t\t\t\trefreshing the whole page. This was groundbreaking in 2005 and helped spark the broader Web 2.0
\n\t\t\t\trevolution.<\/p>\n

The answer is AJAX \u2014 Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. Google Maps was
\n\t\t\t\tone of the first major web apps to use this technique at scale, letting users drag and explore maps
\n\t\t\t\tfluidly without triggering a full page reload. It became a defining demonstration of what interactive
\n\t\t\t\tweb applications could do.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Approximately how many Street View images has Google captured as of recent
\n\t\t\t\t\testimates?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tA10 billionB50 billionC220 billionD500 billion\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Correct! Google has captured over 220 billion Street View images
\n\t\t\t\tcovering more than 10 million miles of roads across 100-plus countries. It remains one of the largest
\n\t\t\t\tphotography projects ever undertaken, using cars, trikes, snowmobiles, and even backpack-mounted
\n\t\t\t\tcameras.<\/p>\n

The staggering answer is around 220 billion images. Google’s Street View
\n\t\t\t\tprogram has photographed over 10 million miles of roads across more than 100 countries, using everything
\n\t\t\t\tfrom cars and bikes to backpack-mounted camera rigs to reach places vehicles simply can’t go.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Which mapping and traffic app did Google acquire in 2013 to improve real-time
\n\t\t\t\t\ttraffic data in Google Maps?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tAHERE MapsBWazeCMapFactorDSygic\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Correct! Google acquired Waze in June 2013 for approximately $1.1
\n\t\t\t\tbillion. Waze was an Israeli community-driven navigation app that used real-time crowdsourced data from
\n\t\t\t\tdrivers to report accidents, speed traps, and road hazards \u2014 features that have since been deeply
\n\t\t\t\tintegrated into Google Maps.<\/p>\n

The answer is Waze, the Israeli crowdsourced navigation app that Google
\n\t\t\t\tbought in June 2013 for around $1.1 billion. Waze’s strength was its community of drivers reporting live
\n\t\t\t\troad conditions, accidents, and hazards \u2014 and that real-time data has since become a core part of Google
\n\t\t\t\tMaps’ navigation experience.<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

What is the name of Google Maps’ feature that allows users to explore the inside of
\n\t\t\t\t\tbuildings such as airports and shopping malls?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tAInterior ViewBBuilding ExplorerCIndoor MapsDFloorPlan Mode\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Correct! Google introduced Indoor Maps in 2011, allowing users to
\n\t\t\t\tnavigate the interiors of large public venues like airports, museums, and shopping centers. The feature
\n\t\t\t\tdisplays floor plans and points of interest floor by floor, helping people find gates, restrooms, and
\n\t\t\t\tstores with ease.<\/p>\n

The feature is called Indoor Maps, which Google rolled out starting in
\n\t\t\t\t2011. It lets users view detailed floor plans of large public buildings like airports and malls,
\n\t\t\t\tcomplete with floor-by-floor navigation to help you find your gate, a coffee shop, or the nearest exit.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Continue<\/p>\n

Which major tech company launched Apple Maps in 2012, directly competing with Google
\n\t\t\t\t\tMaps on mobile devices?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tAMicrosoftBSamsungCAppleDNokia\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Correct! Apple launched Apple Maps in September 2012 with iOS 6,
\n\t\t\t\tcontroversially replacing Google Maps as the default navigation app on iPhones. The launch was
\n\t\t\t\tnotoriously rocky \u2014 with missing locations, distorted imagery, and routing errors \u2014 prompting a rare
\n\t\t\t\tpublic apology from Apple CEO Tim Cook.<\/p>\n

The answer is Apple, which launched Apple Maps with iOS 6 in September
\n\t\t\t\t2012. The rollout became infamous for errors including melted bridges, misplaced landmarks, and poor
\n\t\t\t\trouting, leading to a very public apology from CEO Tim Cook and temporarily boosting appreciation for
\n\t\t\t\tGoogle Maps among iPhone users.<\/p>\n

See My Score<\/p>\n

\t\t\tChallenge Complete
\n\t\t\t\tYour Score<\/p>\n

\/ 8<\/p>\n

Thanks for playing!<\/p>\n

Try Again\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Efficiency isn’t always efficient<\/p>\n

Decide based on your real-world needs<\/p>\n

\"Google
\n Credit:\u00a0Google<\/p>\n

Let’s cut to the chase: the feature is called Prefer fuel-efficient routes, or possibly energy-efficient routes if you’ve set your vehicle type as an EV (more on this below). Either way, you can toggle it off by going to Settings -> Navigation and searching under Route options.<\/p>\n

There are some details worth explaining, the first being how Google actually prioritizes efficiency. It’s not elevating that factor at all costs — it’s simply adding it into the mix alongside traffic, simplicity, and other road conditions. Beyond certain thresholds, less efficient routes may be recommended regardless. Also, if you disable the feature, you’ll still see efficient routes marked with a green leaf.<\/p>\n

It’s not hard to identify the gaps here. Google doesn’t tell you what those thresholds are, so it’s entirely possible that the efficient route will not only be slower, but convoluted. Yes, taking an efficient route will almost always be easier on your wallet. Sometimes, though, saving a few minutes can be vital, and taking backroads can be more stressful than the highway, say if they include potholes or dangerous intersections.<\/p>\n

The reason I’d recommend disabling this for many EV owners is the rapidly improving convenience of intracity charging. Even if you don’t have a charger in your house or apartment building, station top-ups are cheaper than gas, and increasingly quick. Using NACS<\/a>, the 2026 Nissan Leaf can charge from 10 to 80% in about 35 minutes — and that’s a relatively low-end model. Vehicles like Hyundai’s latest Ioniqs can finish in 20 minutes or less. <\/p>\n

Most gas drivers should probably leave the feature on, given how high prices have spiked because of the US-Israeli war with Iran. Still, if your job depends on urgent timing, or you’re about to head out on a long roadtrip<\/a>, turning it off may actually be a necessity. It’s one thing to save four minutes on a crosstown commute — on a cross-country drive, you might easily save 40 minutes per leg. That’s a long time to be stuck in a car, and you may be racing to make a hotel, flight, or event booking. <\/p>\n

A few additional caution points<\/p>\n

Read this before you go<\/p>\n

\"The
\n Credit:\u00a0Hyundai<\/p>\n

Google warns that energy-efficient routes for EVs don’t include charging stops. That might seem ridiculous at first, but presumably this is because the app is trying to stretch your battery as far as possible within city conditions, where charging is (relatively) easy to come by. The moment you’re headed out on an intercity trip, safe access to chargers trumps most other concerns.<\/p>\n

Remember to set your vehicle type via Settings -> Your vehicles. Whether or not efficient routes are preferred, Google calculates efficiency data based on your engine. Hybrids and full EVs are most efficient downhill or in stop-and-go traffic, thanks to regenerative braking. Gas-guzzlers are best on the highway. If you own an electric motorcycle, you’ll have to pick an electric car regardless, as Google’s motorcycle mode doesn’t yet acknowledge your existence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The main reason anyone uses Google Maps is in-car navigation, and the app’s features definitely reflect this. Apart…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":570746,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[111,139,69,145],"class_list":["post-570745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=570745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570745\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/570746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=570745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=570745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=570745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}