Audi developing electronic driving coach to boost fuel economy
Few factors affect fuel economy more than individual driving style, and anyone who's gotten behind the wheel of a modern vehicle equipped with an onboard computer has inevitably played the consumption game. Audi is taking the concept of an insta-mile-per-gallon gauge to the next level by developing a system that analyzes driver behavior and then tips off drivers on ways to reduce consumption.The system was presented at the TechDay 2007 seminar in Germany, where Audi sought to draw focus on drivers, fuel usage and emissions reduction. The automaker contends that just by changing the habits of the driver, fuel economy numbers could be boosted by as much as 30-percent, without having to sacrifice "speed and dynamism."
The system also incorporates the vehicle's sat-nav to make route suggestions based on traffic and road conditions, something that should be available in next generation "digital road maps."
[Source: InsideLine]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tbirdkatz 6:20PM (8/28/2007)
I have an idea. Instead of an electronic driving coach, just tell people to quit flooring it and hitting 4000 rpms at stoplights. You have no idea how many people here in Wi I see floor it at the light only to go 2mph over the speed limit. I don't get it. I end up passing them 1/4 mile down the road because they refuse to go faster, yet feel they are macho for wasting gas. All you have to do is let your transmission shift earlier, and then you get better gas mileage.
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Mike Browning 7:06PM (8/28/2007)
I agree with that, plus I also see a lot of people brake randomly on the interstate. I never understood this until I rode with a (female) friend who does this. They speed up, brake a little, coast a little, speed up, brake a little, coast a little, etc etc. Such a waste. Just use cruise control if you have that hard of a time maintaining speed!
Logik 4:31AM (8/29/2007)
@Mike
"I agree with that, plus I also see a lot of people brake randomly on the interstate. I never understood this until I rode with a (female) friend who does this. They speed up, brake a little, coast a little, speed up, brake a little, coast a little, etc etc. Such a waste."
That makes two of us. She drove stick, would get up to speed, take it out of gear, coast and repeat. It gets very annoying after a while, as in, if you have to endure more than 10 miles of it.
tbirdkatz 5:08AM (8/29/2007)
Usually a great way to save gas is make use of cruise control. A computer is much more steady than a foot. Sometimes however, in hilly areas, let off a little on the incline and coast downhill. Gas can be saved by doing this.
AMGoff 12:27AM (8/29/2007)
That's just what I would want... some German yelling at me for how I'm driving...
"Nein! Beseitigen Sie Ihren Fuß des Gaspedals!
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Logik 4:43AM (8/29/2007)
"Audi is taking the concept of an insta-mile-per-gallon gauge to the next level by developing a system that analyzes driver behavior and then tips off drivers on ways to reduce consumption."
A lot of cars already have instant MPG/average MPG gauges. People check it out for the first couple of months of owning the car, then they don't bother anymore (my mom, my brother, me, just to start). I believe that there are only THREE consistent (non-extreme, like shutting off your engine while in motion) ways of reducing your fuel consumption:
1. Don't accelerate too quickly.
2. Slow down.
3. Walk more (i.e. stop driving to everywhere).
Just like my Dad used to say, "Once kids learn to drive, they would even drive to the toilet."
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BLS 7:04AM (8/29/2007)
This is filed under Aston Martin.
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DCragTop 12:55PM (8/29/2007)
"iRobot, take thei Audi to be my awefully financed car. To manage and create a better human being for as long as my gigabites allow"....you may now kiss your processor.
give me a brake!
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