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Toyota To Add Eco Driving Indicator To All Next-Gen Models |
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| By Michael d'Estries in Energy, Transportation | January 8, 2008 | ||
While it would be great if everyone paid attention to driving habits in relation to saving fuel — the truth is not many of us know exactly the best way to efficiently hit the open road. For those currently sitting in a car equipped with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, you probably already have an idea of what “Eco” mode is. Basically, when you’re driving most efficiently, an eco lamp lights up on the dashboard. Hitting the pedal with a lead foot will turn it off. This back and forth of trial and error eventually places you in the “zone” of fuel savings — about 5-10%.
Anyways, Toyota plans on implementing this system across their lineup — including all Lexus and Scion models sometime in 2009. From the article,
“The Eco Driving Indicator would include an Eco Zone Display, which would indicate the throttle opening and whether the driver is driving efficiently. It also would include, for automatic-transmission-equipped vehicles, an Eco Lamp that would illuminate if the driver drives efficiently enough to stay within the “Eco Zone,” and that would, for manual-transmission-equipped vehicles, illuminate at the optimal shift point. Finally, it would include an Average Fuel Consumption Meter to provide the average fuel-economy number since the vehicle’s last fueling or system reset.”
Toyota’s plan is to make drivers more efficient — even if the cars they’re using aren’t. It’s a great idea — but I’m wondering how many people might be turned off by yet another indicator to watch out for. Part of me would rather they just focus on making the cars more efficient to the point where people don’t even notice the driving difference.
Is this a good move?
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Derek Andrews said,
I think a better idea would be an meter that shows the instantaneous fuel consumption. This might provide a great reminder to slow down a bit and find the most efficient speed to drive at. It could have the option to display in km/litre or $/km and switch automatically to $/second when stopped at lights.
Quick Green Reads For The Weekend Volume Forty Seven. » The Good Human said,
[...] plans on adding an eco-driving indicator to all models, even the non-hybrids. Maybe this will stop people from stomping on the gas when they see the [...]