BestPath

The App that I propose is an alternative vehicle routing map to supplement/replace routing available from Google Maps, etc. Presently the available routing apps and websites focus on getting to destinations as quickly as possible. As advanced vehicle technologies continue to emerge, particularly in the Plug-in Vehicle (PEV) field, drivers will become more interested in getting the most out of their vehicles. The App that I am developing (and the underlying algorithms) works towards providing two distinct advantages over “fastest path” routing:

1. Provide alternative routes to destinations that require less energy.
2. Provide optimal route refueling for vehicles. A tradeoff commonly exists for routing between getting to destinations quickly and getting to them efficiently. This can be resolved through multi-objective optimization wherein fuel prices can be accounted for and drivers can determine “how much their time is worth” to see if they should take alternative routes (additional time on routes can save fuel and thus fueling costs). Routing difficulties increase when PEV are included in the consideration. It can be desirable for vehicles to maximize their electrical energy use, but the best route to get to destinations with charging in-between is likely unknown. When alternative fuels such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or compressed Hydrogen (H2) are applied as low emission PEVs, fueling becomes almost a burden in most areas. Through route optimization, this burden can be significantly reduced.