Pedal Teaches Better MPG Habits

While there are many ways to conserve fuel, one of the most feasible for most people is to modify driving habits. One suggested way of avoiding the aggressive acceleration that can waste fuel is to press on the throttle pedal as if there was an egg beneath it. If you press lightly enough the imaginary egg would remain intact ... and the gentle acceleration that follows would improve fuel efficiency. Encouraging this driving behavior is the basic idea behind the ECO Pedal system recently unveiled by Nissan that's designed to help 'lead footed' drivers modify their gas-wasting driving style.

When a driver presses on the accelerator pedal with the ECO Pedal system, a counter push-back control mechanism is activated. The computerized ECO Pedal system calculates optimum acceleration based on the measured rate of fuel consumption and transmission efficiency during acceleration and cruising. Then, if the system detects that excess pressure is being applied beyond that needed for fuel efficient acceleration, the pedal applies a counter pressure to let the driver know that more fuel is being used than required for peak fuel efficiency.

In addition, an eco-driving indicator is incorporated in the tachometer on the instrument panel. It indicates the optimal level for fuel efficient driving by providing real-time fuel consumption levels. Drive within the optimal fuel consumption range and the indicator is green. It begins to flash if increased acceleration is detected before reaching the fuel consumption threshold. Pass this threshold and the indicator turns amber to warn a driver of fuel wasting driving behavior. The ECO Pedal system can be turned on or off according to driver preference.

Nissan says the ECO Pedal drive system can improve fuel efficiency by 5 to 10 percent depending on driving conditions. The automaker plans to commercialize the ECO Pedal during 2009.

The ECO Pedal is part of the Nissan Green Program 2010 that aims at reducing CO2 emissions. Nissan is taking a three tier approach here by improving vehicle technologies, driving behavior, and traffic conditions. The ECO Pedal is but one of several technologies addressing driving behavior.

Want to know more about saving fuel? Be sure to check out these articles on GreenCar.com:
5 Quick Ways to Cut Your Gas Bill
$$$ Tip: Don't Buy Premium Gas
Trends: High MPG Transmissions