Hyundai To Offer "Green Navigation"

Hyundai is partnering with technology company NAVTEQ to offer drivers a “green” option for route guidance. The “green” choice will apparently yield a 6 percent bump in fuel economy, which should dovetail nicely with Hyundai’s new Sonata Hybrid and their Elantra, Veloster and Accent small cars, which are capable of 40 mpg on the highway.

Of course, driving in anger during a high traffic stop and go commute is the worst way to conserve fuel, but also the most common mode of driving for many people.

[Source: Translogic]

Hit the jump to read the press release

Hyundai Introduces ‘Green Routing’ Navigation Leveraging NAVTEQ’s Advanced Content

Latest Hyundai navigation platform uses NAVTEQ’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) attributes for ‘green’ option

GENEVA, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of maps, traffic and location data enabling navigation, location-based services and mobile advertising around the world, has been chosen by Hyundai to provide advanced content for its new navigation platform which features a green routing option as well as the traditional ‘shortest’ or ‘fastest’ routes. Being showcased on the new Hyundai Veloster which is being launched at the Geneva Motor Show this week, the system will also be demonstrated at the NAVTEQ stand (7000, Hall 7).

Hyundai developed the new software using NAVTEQ’s digital map data with additional ADAS attributes such as slopes, height and curvature which enable the routing calculations to take into account more precise road geometry and the nature of the terrain. This has been coupled with NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns™ which predicts where and when traffic jams will happen based on when they typically occur – so drivers can be guided via alternative routes where traffic flows more smoothly. Together these attributes enable the navigation system to find routes which minimize fuel consumption.

“It is rare for this type of ‘green routing’ option to be available in C–segment vehicles but we are looking to exploit any opportunity which encourages responsible driving and lowers CO2 emissions,” commented Allan Rushforth, COO & SVP European Operations, Hyundai Motor Europe GmbH. “By leveraging NAVTEQ’s expertise and support services we can improve customer benefits and move beyond the map to ADAS data and other advanced content to bring this technology to higher volume models.”

Tests comparing ‘fastest route’ and ‘greenest route’ calculations in several city and urban scenarios ranging from Paris to Frankfurt, New York and Chicago showed that when using the ‘greenest route’, there was at least a 6% fuel saving per trip and often more*. In additional NAVTEQ research,** green routing – with the navigation system determining the most fuel-efficient route – proved the eco friendly feature with the highest level of interest, followed by green driving (which advises the driver on the optimum speed and gear for the terrain) and then predictive cruise control. Most of those surveyed would anticipate using green features on a weekly basis.