Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
Google Maps, Waze, and the rest of the navigation apps could soon display up-to-date gas price information in the United Kingdom if a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) proposal goes through.
The CMA notes that retailers only show price information at gas stations, so drivers can't compare prices in advance. The only way to do this is to visit multiple gas stations, see the prices, and then compare them before choosing a specific location.
As the CMA explains, this makes it hard for drivers to find the cheapest gas, but at the same time, it also weakens competition.
As a result, the agency wants to create a database where gas retailers must update their prices in real-time. In other words, this database should contain up-to-date and accurate gas prices for each station in the United Kingdom, so drivers can compare them without having to go to a specific location.
The bigger benefit is that the database would be public and available for any application out there. This means software developers can import the data and create fuel comparison apps, making it even more convenient for drivers to find the cheapest option.
What's more, navigation apps like Google Maps can start showing up-to-date gas price information right within the app. Some solutions, such as Waze, use crowdsourced data to provide users with such data, but the information isn't always up-to-date and accurate.
CMA explains in its proposal to the UK government that the database must be in an open and accessible format, emphasizing that new legislation is required to require fuel retailers to share up-to-date pricing.
According to some rough estimates provided by the agency, such a database could help get significant savings. For example, a driver would be able to save up to 4.50 pounds a tank on average (close to $6 for our American readers) if they don't mind driving for five more minutes to another gas station. This public database would help them determine where they need to go for the cheapest gas, eventually fueling competition in this sector as well.
In the meantime, crowdsourced data remains the only option for mobile applications. Waze indeed does an excellent job in this regard, but there's still room for improvement. Fuelio from Sygic comes with a similar approach as well.
At the same time, drivers in specific regions participate in online communities and Facebook groups where they discuss and share gas prices at certain stations, eventually helping determine where they can find cheaper fuel. If CMA's proposal receives the UK government's backing, all these struggles would come to an end, as searching for cheaper fuel would be as easy as looking for a new destination in your favorite navigation app.
As the CMA explains, this makes it hard for drivers to find the cheapest gas, but at the same time, it also weakens competition.
As a result, the agency wants to create a database where gas retailers must update their prices in real-time. In other words, this database should contain up-to-date and accurate gas prices for each station in the United Kingdom, so drivers can compare them without having to go to a specific location.
The bigger benefit is that the database would be public and available for any application out there. This means software developers can import the data and create fuel comparison apps, making it even more convenient for drivers to find the cheapest option.
What's more, navigation apps like Google Maps can start showing up-to-date gas price information right within the app. Some solutions, such as Waze, use crowdsourced data to provide users with such data, but the information isn't always up-to-date and accurate.
CMA explains in its proposal to the UK government that the database must be in an open and accessible format, emphasizing that new legislation is required to require fuel retailers to share up-to-date pricing.
According to some rough estimates provided by the agency, such a database could help get significant savings. For example, a driver would be able to save up to 4.50 pounds a tank on average (close to $6 for our American readers) if they don't mind driving for five more minutes to another gas station. This public database would help them determine where they need to go for the cheapest gas, eventually fueling competition in this sector as well.
In the meantime, crowdsourced data remains the only option for mobile applications. Waze indeed does an excellent job in this regard, but there's still room for improvement. Fuelio from Sygic comes with a similar approach as well.
At the same time, drivers in specific regions participate in online communities and Facebook groups where they discuss and share gas prices at certain stations, eventually helping determine where they can find cheaper fuel. If CMA's proposal receives the UK government's backing, all these struggles would come to an end, as searching for cheaper fuel would be as easy as looking for a new destination in your favorite navigation app.
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